India Leads the World in Meat-Free Diets, New Statista Survey Reveals

From vegconomist.com

A Statista Consumer Insights survey on meat-free diets worldwide has revealed that India surpasses the rest of the world in following either a vegetarian or a vegan diet. 

According to the data collected from 2,000–10,000 respondents aged 18–64 surveyed in various countries between 2023 and 2024, four out of ten people in India follow a meat-free diet.

The figure is significantly lower in the following nine countries on the top-ten list, which interestingly does not include Germany or the Netherlands. Moreover, the UK, a country experiencing a surge in veganism in recent years, is on par with the US, with only 10% of respondents saying they embrace a meat-free diet.

The chart shows that 11% of South Africans follow a meat-free diet. According to ProVeg South Africa’s latest report, plant-based main dishes have seen a 16.67% increase in menus in response to growing health, ethical, and environmental concerns. Nonetheless, they still constitute less than 5% of the total offerings.

In contrast, in China, where the dominant protein intake is plant-based sources, only 9% consider themselves vegetarians or vegans. Notably, in France, where solid gastronomic traditions based on meat and dairy prevail and labels of plant-based alternatives are restricted, 8% of participants said they are on meatless diets.

Only 6% of participants in Finland — a key producer of plant-based ingredients and food tech — and South Korea, where the government has embraced a national plan for plant-based foods — declared their diets as meatless. The list ends with Brazil and Mexico at 5%.

© Vegan Dukan/Sudo Foods

The Indian consumer

According to the World Atlas, India has the highest rate of vegetarians in the world, with 38% of its population identifying as vegetarians. Vegetarianism is prevalent in communities such as Jains, Lingayat, Brahmins, and Vaishnavas.

India also has one of the lowest meat consumption rates in the world, with a large portion of consumers identifying as flexitarians and 9% as vegan. According to IMARC Group, the Indian vegan food market reached $1,468.3 million in 2023 and is expected to reach $3,474.8 million by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 10.04% from 2024 to 2032.

Veganuary India reported that it was expecting record participation in its 2024 campaign last December. The charity cited a survey showing that 70% of Indian consumers believe the country’s strong tradition of vegetarianism could help fuel the growth of veganism. Meanwhile, 62% said the vegan lifestyle was easy to maintain, while 61% believed there were enough vegan food choices.

In another study, GFI India, looking to identify the profile of the Indian vegan consumer, found a strong purchase intent for meat and dairy analogues. In addition, the research found that 40% of the households that tried plant-based meat also purchased plant-based dairy, indicating an important shift in consumers’ habits.

Worldwide, dairy products are considered a cruelty-free option to meat. However, global efforts toward animal ethics are unveiling how cows in the dairy industry face even more suffering than animals for meat since they and their calves are brutally exploited before slaughter.

It is worth highlighting that India is the world’s largest milk producer, contributing 25% of global milk production.

https://vegconomist.com/studies-and-numbers/india-leads-world-meat-free-diets-statista-survey-reveals/