Global per capita meat consumption 2015-2030, by type
Meat consumption - additional information
Meat has been a dietary staple for several millennia. Early hunter-gatherers had hunted large animals for sustenance. Sheep and goats were one of the first animals which had been domesticated as a food source. The domestication of both animals had become typical of nomadic pastoralists. Cattle and pigs had been domesticated somewhat later, as communities converted to more sedentary lifestyles.
Meat, which is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals, can become part of a healthy and balanced diet. However, some meats contain high amounts of saturated fat, which can increase blood cholesterol levels.
Pork was the most popular meat product in 2015, with a global per capita consumption of 15.3 kilograms. Poultry was the second most widely consumed meat product that year, followed by beef. The per capita consumption of poultry worldwide amounted to 13.8 kilograms, while beef consumption was 10.1 kilograms. Nonetheless, the per capita consumption of poultry and beef were forecasted to surpass pork consumption by 2030.
In 2013, the net production of pork worldwide exceeded 113 million metric tons. China accounted for more than half of the total pork production that year. The United States was the second leading pork-producing country, generating over 10.5 million metric tons of pork. Furthermore, more than 310 million metric tons of meat was produced during that period.