Is the world eating more meat, or less?

4 August 2026

What the global trends actually show.

By the ActAsia team · Reviewed by our Plant Forward programme staff · Updated 15 June 2026. ActAsia works on the consumer side of meat demand across Asia, so this draws on major datasets and our own experience.

Global meat consumption is still rising, driven almost entirely by Asia and other lower and middle-income regions as incomes grow. Consumption per person is very uneven, from roughly 120 kg a year in some high-income countries to under 15 kg in the poorest. In several wealthy countries, per-person meat eating has plateaued or begun to fall, but the global total keeps climbing.

The short answer: rising overall, falling in some places

It is tempting to want a single headline, but meat consumption tells two stories at once. Globally, total meat eaten each year is still going up. At the same time, in many high-income countries, the amount each person eats has levelled off and in some cases started to decline. Both things are true, and the gap between them is where the interesting story lies.

The global rise is driven by population growth and, more importantly, by rising incomes in Asia, Africa and Latin America. As people move out of poverty and into cities, they tend to eat more meat, at least at first. That is the single biggest force shaping the numbers.

How uneven consumption really is

Averages hide enormous differences. A person in a high-consuming country such as the United States or Australia may eat around 100 kg or more of meat a year, while a person in a low-income country may eat under 15 kg. This gap matters, because it means the phrase “the world’s meat habit” describes wildly different realities.

It also shapes what fair, effective change looks like. Asking someone already eating very little to eat less makes no sense. The real opportunity sits with high and fast-rising consumers, and increasingly with the growing middle-income populations whose habits are forming right now

The trends at a glance

Poultry is the clear growth story. According to the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook, most of the world’s growth in meat production to 2032 will be in Asia, led by a large rise in poultry.

Why the trend matters

Where meat consumption goes, environmental and welfare pressure follows. More animals raised means more emissions, more land and water used, and more animals living in intensive systems. Livestock already accounts for around 14.5% of global greenhouse-gas emissions (FAO), so the direction of these trends has real consequences.

But trends are not destiny. The same forces that drive consumption up, namely income, culture and convenience, can be shaped. Where plant-rich options are appealing and familiar, and where people understand the stakes, the curve can bend.

Why Asia is the decisive region

Because Asia is home to about 62.5% of the world’s people and driving most of the growth, it is the single most important place to shape future meat consumption. This is exactly where ActAsia concentrates. Its Plant Forward campaign grew from four partner organisations in 2022 to 91 by 2025 and saw 78% of participants pledge to eat more plant-based food (ActAsia CCN and Plant Forward Impact Report, 2021 to 2025), and its analysis finds a pound or dollar goes around three times as far in Asia as in the West (Grant C., 2024).

Frequently asked questions

Is global meat consumption rising or falling?

Globally it is still rising, driven by population growth and rising incomes in Asia and other developing regions. At the same time, per-person consumption has plateaued or begun to fall in several high-income countries, so the two trends run in opposite directions.

Which countries eat the most meat?

High-income countries such as the United States and Australia are among the highest per-person consumers, at roughly 100 kg or more a year, while people in the lowest-income countries may eat under 15 kg. The gap between highest and lowest is very large.

Why is meat consumption rising in Asia?

Mainly because of rising incomes and urbanisation. As people earn more and move to cities, they tend to eat more meat, especially poultry. Asia is projected to see meat and seafood consumption rise 78% between 2017 and 2050 (Asia Research and Engagement).

What will meat consumption look like in 2050?

On current trends, global meat consumption is projected to keep rising to 2050, with most growth in Asia and in poultry. However, food-system studies show this is not fixed, and broad shifts toward plant-rich diets could change the picture significantly.

Which type of meat is growing fastest?

Poultry. The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook projects poultry to lead the growth in world meat production to 2032, while beef consumption per person is broadly flat at the global level.

Education is urgent, and behaviour is learnt. The global meat curve is still rising, but the habits behind it are formed, which means they can be shaped. Help shift diets in Asia