Per capita spending of urban households in China on food 1990-2023

In 2023, the average annual spending of one member of a private urban household in China on food, tobacco, and liquor amounted to approximately 9,500 yuan. The per capita food expenditure in urban China has grown steadily over the years.

Healthy diet in China

China has been the world’s largest food consumer for decades. Along with the fast-growing economy and disposable income, Chinese expenditure on food and beverages has also increased dramatically since 1990. The demand for food in China grew not only in terms of quantity but also quality. The principles of a healthy lifestyle are well-accepted in urban China and have led to dietary changes. In 2022, the Chinese spent nearly 540 billion yuan on buying organic food. According to a survey, more than 40 percent of Chinese respondents confirmed that they follow a healthy and balanced diet most of the time.

Transfer in meat consumption in China

China was the tenth-largest market for meat products and sausages in terms of revenue in 2022. On average, urban residents in China consumed over 35 kilograms of meat and 12 kilograms of poultry in a year. However, an increasing number of Chinese have shown interest in plant-based meat substitutes. More than 80 percent of respondents in a survey conducted in 2020 said they are willing to try plant-based meat in restaurants, and almost 90 percent of the respondents who ate vegan meat would like to continue eating it.