Argentina consistently ranks as the country that eats the most beef per person, driven by its strong asado (barbecue) culture, with figures often exceeding 100 pounds (around 46-49 kg) annually per capita, followed closely by countries like the United States, Brazil, and Uruguay, though total volume consumed is led by the U.S. and China.
After pork and chicken, beef is the third most popular meat consumed worldwide, making up 24% of all meat intake. The demand for beef is particularly high in certain regions, with countries like Argentina leading the world in per capita beef consumption.
Based on a comparison of 165 countries in 2020, USA ranked the highest in cattle meat consumption with 12,535 kt followed by China and Brazil. On the other end of the scale was Belize with 1.00 kt, Seychelles with 1.00 kt and Liberia with 2.00 kt.
In 2024, China remained the dominant force in global beef imports, bringing in a staggering 8.32 billion pounds, more than any other country by a wide margin. The United States followed as the second-largest importer with 4.38 billion pounds, reflecting strong domestic demand despite being the world's largest producer.
The countries that consume the least amount of meat annually on a per-capita basis are, as measured in pounds-per-person:
Simoons, many members of low castes and tribal groups in India reject "cow slaughter and beef eating, some of them quite strongly", while others support beef eating and cattle slaughter.
The most consumed meat in Australia is overwhelmingly chicken, making up nearly half of all meat eaten, with Australians consuming around 48-50kg per person annually due to its affordability, versatility, and convenience compared to beef, lamb, and pork, whose consumption has declined relatively.
Lopez Foods provides McDonald's U.S. Supply Chain with USDA-inspected beef used to make the patties served in restaurants.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, pork is the most widely eaten meat in the world (36%) followed by poultry (33%), beef (24%), and goats/sheep (5%).
Animal names
“Cow” comes from the Old English word “cū” while the word “beef” comes from the Anglo-Norman French word “boeuf.” “Pig,” is an English word whereas “pork,” comes from the French word “porc.” Ditto with “chicken,” which is English, and “poultry,” which originates from the French word “poulet.”
In India, beef is a contentious subject because cows are sacred to the majority Hindus. Yet, at the same time, it is a part of the diets of Muslims, Christians, some Indigenous communities, and Dalits, a historically marginalized group from the lowest level of India's centuries-old discriminatory caste hierarchy.
Blacks had the highest annual total meat consumption (64.2 kg), followed by East Asians (53.6 kg), Whites (46.9 kg), and Hispanics (35.8 kg). Blacks ate significantly more chicken than the other ethnic groups (P < 0.001), and East Asians ate significantly more pork and processed meat (P < 0.001).
Australia banned beef imports from the US in 2003 after the fatal neurological disease bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, was discovered in American cattle.
Globally, more than 50 billion chickens are farmed each year, and in the US, more than 8 billion are slaughtered for meat, making it the most popular meat in America. In the past 50 years, chicken consumption per capita in America has skyrocketed.
Today, pork still dominates, but it is joined by more poultry and beef. This change in diet matters for various reasons. More diversified diets (which are not only about animal products) tend to be more nutritious than monotonous staple-heavy diets that are common for people living in poverty.
The top consumer of pork in 2021 continued to be China, taking into account its special economic regions Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China, whose consumptions were about 61, 52, and 37 kg/inhabitant respectively.
The "most delicious" depends on cultural background, individual taste, and preparation methods. Pork is the 'most flavourful'. Cuts like pork belly and pig's trotters are coveted for their richness and texture.
The 5 Countries That Eat The Most Chicken In The World
King of Meat is "a four-player PVE dungeon crawler with platforming elements. It combines the wild energy of a party game with hack-and-slash gameplay. Dungeons were made by Glowmade or the community, and players move through rooms that are set up for fighting, platforming, puzzles, or a mix of the three."
The unhealthiest item at McDonald's is often cited as the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes, packing over 1,300 calories, nearly a full day's sodium, and significant saturated fat, making it a calorie and nutrient bomb, with other contenders including large shakes, certain Angus burgers, and large fries.
It supplies Yum! Brands chains that use chicken, including KFC and Taco Bell, as well as McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Walmart, Kroger, IGA, Beef O'Brady's, small restaurant businesses, and prisons.
Today, Keystone's US operations are proud to produce and deliver the highest quality beef, chicken and fish products to McDonald's, including more than 150 million pounds of beef, 300 million pounds of chicken and 15 million pounds of fish each year.
In Australia, the ribeye steak is most commonly called the Scotch fillet, though you might also see it referred to as a rib eye steak, especially for bone-in versions, or even a Cattleman's Cutlet for a large, bone-in cut, offering rich flavour and marbling.
Australian Wagyu has, yet again, been crowned the best in the world. Find out what give Aussie beef it's high quality, delicious taste, and consistent marbling. A highly marbled Wagyu sirloin steak from a premium Australian beef producer scooped the top award, at the 2023 World Steak Challenge.
If cattle or fishing is your calling, you'll find a friend in Rockhampton, known as the beef and barra capital of Australia. It's easy to embrace a taste of country life with a serving of the region's famed steak, or through its rich and perfectly-preserved heritage and history.