Top 10 Most Consumed Meats In The World (Updated 2022) (2023)

Meat is the flesh of an animal that is consumed as sustenance by humans.

Meat has been an element of the human diet since prehistoric times, and the domestication of animals for milk and meat was a driving force behind the emergence of permanent human communities beginning around 10,000 B.C.

Anthropologists believe that greater meat consumption, which is high in fat and protein, contributed to human life spans and intellectual growth during prehistoric times.

However, because humans require a considerable amount of nutrition, animal products can meet the nutritional requirements of the human body, allowing it to support everyday activities and gladly participate in activities.

Meat, in general, refers to animal organs such as the spleen, kidney, brain, and other tissues that can be consumed by humans and contain a variety of essential nutrients.

According to current research, the top ten animal meats consumed by humans are as follows.

1. Chicken

Chicken consumption is increasing faster than any other meat in the globe, whereas pork consumption is declining in even its most popular areas.

According to a recent report, chicken is one of the most popular poultry farms among people throughout the world since it is one of the most butchered animals by humans.

Chicken flesh is a very nutritious food element that is easy to access, inexpensive, tastes nice, and has a soft texture.

As a result, it is generally adored around the world and is frequently utilized to meet protein needs.

Every year, billions of chickens are produced in Canada, the United States, South America, Africa, and other countries.

Chicken meat is one of those foods that is really simple to make and is even favored by children.

One more reason for its popularity is thatchicken can be prepared into a number of dishes and sandwiches quickly and easily.

It doesn’t take a master chef to produce a simple chicken dish.

This flying favorite is without a question among the most popular meats.

Chicken meat is the most consumed animal protein by humans in 2021, according to statistics.

Every year, the average American consumes 201 pounds of beef.

Unsurprisingly, poultry is in high demand, with an estimated eight billion chickens consumed in the United States each year.

Chicken’s appeal appears to be timeless, with annual consumption steadily increasing since the 1960s.

Red meat is extremely popular, to the extent where eliminating beef from the diet would equate to the removal of 26 million cars off the road.

Chicken meat output will reach 128 million tons in 2020­–2021.

The main reason for this is that the poultry sector is far more environmentally friendly than almost any other type of meat.

According to a recent survey from 2021, chicken has a carbon footprint that is almost half that of pork, a quarter that of beef, and nearly a seventh that of lamb per kilogram ingested.

2. Pork

Pork is a popular meat in several countries, including China, America, Europe, and a number of Asian countries such as Vietnam.

According to statistics, China produces the most pork, followed by the United States.

Pork is a good choice for food service since it is a cost-effective meat to produce, is high in protein, and is adaptable.

Another reason for the rise in popularity and sales of pork is its versatility.

Pork is a wonderful competitor for producing diversified, healthful, and cost-effective meals, and it meets all of those requirements.

Greater pork consumption in the food service industry leads to increased desire and demand for pork.

Pork is proving to be a really adaptable meat once again, due to an increasingly diversified population and the growing influence of Asian and Latino foods.

Pork can be found in many countries’ recipes, and with influence from those cultures rising in the United States alone, it’s no surprise that pork is becoming the meat of choice.

One big reason for this is that pork contains nutrients such as carbs, protein, vitamins, and minerals, and has the advantage of containing a lot of vitamin B1.

This substance aids in the digestion of carbohydrates and supports the nervous system’s function.

Finally, pork is regarded as a healthier alternative to red meat.

If you eat too much red meat, it can be harmful to your health, increasing your risk of heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.

Pork is viewed as a healthy yet delicious alternative to red meats and eating healthy is always a trend.

Pork is the second most consumed animal flesh by humans in 2021, according to statistics.

Pork output totaled 118 million tons in 2021.

3. Beef

Meat from bovines, particularly cattle, is referred to as beef in the culinary world.

Cows, bulls, heifers, and steers can all be used to produce beef.

In different places throughout the world, its acceptance as a food source varies.

Beef is a very adaptable meat.

There are several cuts of beef that will provide you with a distinct taste and texture.

When a bull is butchered in various parts of the world, nothing is wasted.

The entire body is eaten, from the head to the feet.

Every year, millions of pounds of beef are consumed around the world.

Beef is one of the foodstuffs of animal origin that includes nutrients in the form of water, protein, fat, minerals, and a limited number of carbohydrates.

It’s one of the most popular in the world community.

With any type of beef steak, most people in the world know how delicious steak produced from beef is.

Beef is a ruminant meat with a large production worldwide in 2021, according to statistics.

Statistically, Total beef production in 2021 would reach 92 million tons.

Last year, the world consumed 130 billion pounds of beef.

In 2020, the United States was the world’s top beef consumer, followed by China, the European Union, Brazil, and India.

In 2020, the United States accounted for around 21 percent of global beef consumption.

4. Lamb Meat

Lamb meat is derived from sheep that are slaughtered between the ages of one month and one year.

Sheep meat, often known as mutton, is one of the most widely consumed meats in the world, with millions of pounds consumed each year.

The European Union is the world’s largest lamb consumer and importer, with Australia and New Zealand accounting for 99 percent of all lamb imported.

The Leg of Lamb Roast is considered Australia’s national dish.

Mongolia, Turkmenistan, New Zealand, Iceland, and Greece are the nations that consume the most sheep and goats.

According to a report, the average Mongolian consumes roughly 50 kilograms of sheep and goat meat every year.

It has a taste and texture that is comparable to goat meat.

The truth is sheep aren’t typically raised for meat consumption.

Instead, many sheep farmers keep sheep for wool production.

Overall lamb meat production in 2021 would reach 18 million tons, according to a study.

Turkey consumed 371 thousand tons of lamb and sheep meat in 2020, followed by Iran (325 thousand tons) and the Syrian Arab Republic (158 thousand tons), accounting for 63 percent of total consumption.

Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, and Bahrain trailed behind, accounting for 35 percent of the total.

Qatar had the fastest rate of growth in lamb and sheep meat consumption among the major consuming countries from 2007 to 2021, whereas lamb and sheep meat consumption in the other leaders grew at a slower pace.

Bahrain (16 kg per person), Qatar (13 kg per person), and Kuwait (12 kg per person) had the highest per capita consumption of lamb and sheep meat in 2021.

5. Goat Meat

Goat meat is predicted to be one of the most popular foods in 2021, and with good reason: it is the fifth most consumed meat on the planet.

The leanest red meat available is goat flesh.

One of the main reasons for this is that it is lower in calories and cholesterol than other lean meats like chicken and turkey.

One study shows that a portion of goat meat has 122 calories, which is significantly less than beef’s 179 and chicken’s 162.

Goat meat is likewise lower in fat and saturated fat, but it includes more iron than beef and chicken, which is an important component of a healthy diet.

Goat is the most extensively consumed red meat on the planet.

Goat meat is consumed by around 63 percent of the world’s population, and it is notably popular in South Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

On the other hand, this meat has just recently begun to appear on restaurant menus in the United States.

Goat meat is one of the most widely consumed meats on the planet.

Goat meatcontains a wide range of nutritional benefits.

According to a poll, several countries are expected to produce the most goat meat in 2021.

China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Bangladesh are the countries in question.

In 2021, the overall production of goat meat would reach 12 million tons, according to statistics.

6. Turkey

Turkey is a huge fowl species that falls into the same category as chicken when it comes to white flesh.

Turkey meat is slightly darker than chicken meat, but it has fewer calories.

Turkey isn’t as common as chicken when it comes to popular varieties of white meat.

Turkey meat is drier than chicken meat, especially the breast, but both of these avian animals are high in lean protein.

Turkey meat is a product with consistent demand in North America, Europe, and Latin America, but per capita consumption varies by nation.

Turkey meat consumption is mostly affected by per capita income and seasonality.

Hence, countries with a high quality of living generally consume more turkey meat per capita.

On the other hand, rising living standards and fast urbanization, rising popularity of western foods in Asia, and more attention put on decreasing fat intake have all contributed to a considerable growth in turkey meat production and consumption worldwide over the last decade.

The United States consumed the most turkey meat (2.4 million tons), accounting for 41% of overall consumption.

Furthermore, turkey meat consumption in the United States was four times that of the second-largest user, Brazil (560 thousand tons).

With an 8.1 percent share of total consumption, Germany (475 thousand tons) came in third. Israel (11 kg per person), the United States (7.36 kg per person), and Germany had the largest per capita consumption of turkey meat in 2021.

According to a report, several countries produce a significant amount of turkey meat.

The United States of America, Brazil, Germany, Poland, and France are the countries in question.

Turkey meat production is expected to reach 6 million tons at the end of2021, according to statistics.

7. Duck

Duck flesh is one of the meats that a lot of people enjoy.

China, with 5.5 million tons consumed, continues to be the world’s largest duck meat consumer, accounting for 76% of global consumption.

Furthermore, duck meat consumption in China outstripped that of the world’s second-largest consumer, France, by a factor of ten.

Myanmar was in third place in this ranking, with 174K tons and a 2.4 percent stake.

Copper, iron, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc are among the mineral components found in every 100 grams of duck meat and skin.

Duck meat contains vitamins such as Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K, in addition to minerals.

The Pekin duck is the most popular duck meat in the United States.

Ducks, whether ugly or beautiful, are one of the world’s most popular meats.

The overall production of duck meat in 2021 would reach five million tons, according to statistics.

Some research shows several countries are expected to produce the most duck meat in 2021.

China, Myanmar, Vietnam, South Korea, and Hungary are also among those countries.

8. Buffalo

Although buffalo are a species of bovid, their meat differs from beef in many ways.

In different nations, buffalo meat is referred to by different names.

It’s known as red beef in certain locations, or buff in India and Nepal, and carabeef in others, after the Spanish phrase and breed designation Carabao.

Padwa is the best quality buffalo meat in India, and it comes from a buffalo that is less than 24 months old.

Buffalo meat has a reduced fat level and its fat is milky white, as opposed to the yellow-white fat of beef, which is one of the reasons for its increased consumption.

Buffalo meat is deeper in color, and buffaloes have tougher bones than cows due to their larger size.

Buffalo meat is the most widely produced meat in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Bulgaria, Italy, Russia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Australia, and Egypt.

Buffalo has become extremely valuable creatures with high aesthetic value in several parts of Indonesia, such as Toraja, South Sulawesi.

India is one of the largest exporters of buffalo meat in the world.

Buffalo meat from young buffalo is of significantly greater quality than other cow meat because it contains a higher amount of muscle and a smaller proportion of fat.

The entire production of buffalo meat in 2020–2021 could reach 4.9 million tons, according to statistics.

9. Goose Meat

China is the world’s largest consumer of goose meat, accounting for 76% of overall consumption.

Between 2009 and 2020, the East Asian country’s consumption of goose meat climbed at an average yearly rate of 2.2 percent.

France is the world’s second-largest consumer of goose meat.

It consumes 203,000 tons per year.

Myanmar occupies the third position with its annual consumption of 174,000 tons, giving that country a 2.4 percent share.

Goose meat is one of the next most popular meats.

Goose meat is high in protein and low in fat when the skin is removed, which is why it is so popular.

Vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin, and vitamin B12 are all found in cooked goose.

Goose also has a high iron, potassium, zinc, copper, and selenium content.

Poultry meat is also in high demand as a source of nutrition around the world.

Furthermore, there are several countries that produce the most goose meat.

China, Egypt, Myanmar, Madagascar, and Taiwan are the countries involved.

Goose production around the globe is dominated by Asia, particularly China.

Even though goose meat consumption is lower than that of other fowl, output has been steadily increasing.

Finally, a survey estimates that overall goose meat production in 2020–2021 is 2.7 million tons.

10. Rabbit Meat

Rabbit (Lepus nigricollis) is a species of mammal that is quite popular because of its cuteness.

Rabbit is a popular meat in many places throughout the world, including China, Europe, and South America.

When compared to other meats, rabbit meat has a higher protein content.

Rabbit meat is entirely white, with easily digestible proteins.

Spain, France, and China are the three countries that consume the most rabbit meat.

This meat is primarily consumed throughout Europe, the Americas, and areas of the Middle East, according to statistics.

Because rabbit meat has fine fibers and a pale tint, it can be classified as white meat, similar to chicken meat.

Rabbit meat is high in protein and unsaturated fatty acids, making it ideal for maintaining healthy body tissues.

This is why there is a higher demand for it.

Spain (51 thousand tons), Italy (45 thousand tons), and the Czech Republic (40 thousand tons) are the countries that consume the most rabbit meat as of 2020–2021, accounting for 57 percent of global consumption.

France, Germany, Bulgaria, and Slovakia trailed behind, accounting for 36 percent of the total.

Slovakia has the highest rate of growth in terms of rabbit meat consumption among the key consuming countries from 2013 to 2021.

The Czech Republic (3.72 kg per person) has the largest per capita consumption of rabbit meat in 2021, followed by Spain (1.09 kg per person), Slovakia (0.82 kg per person), and Italy (0.75 kg per person), with the global average per capita consumption of rabbit meat predicted at 0.46 kg per person.

According to a research study, overall rabbit meat output in 2021 will reach 1.1 million tons.