How Many People Eat a Plant-Based Diet? - J. Harris
Vegetarianism motivated by religious or ethical reasons has been common in countries like India for centuries. Now, other parts of the world are catching on.
The number of vegetarians While the number of true vegetarians may not be rising as quickly as it has in the past, the sales and consumption of vegetarian foods is. Increased sales are likely due to “flexitarianism” or “part-time vegetarianism” practiced by omnivores who try to eat more vegetarian meals.
Canada
Between 4% and 10% of Canadians are vegetarian or vegan.
- In 2004, an Ipsos-Reid report prepared for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada found that 1 in 10 (10%) of Canadians call themselves “vegetarian”.
- In 2003, 4% of Canadians were labelled vegetarians (2003 Canadian-American dietetic association position paper).
- Between 3% and 10% of North Americans consider themselves vegetarian (CBC.ca). However, some respondents who self-identify as “vegetarian” do also occasionally eat meat, fish or poultry.
United States
About 3% of Americans are vegetarians, and about 1% are vegan.
- In 2009, 3% of Americans were vegetarian and about 1% were vegan (Vegetarian Resource Group - “How Many Vegetarians Are There?”).
- In a 2008 study on natural and alternative remedies, 1.6% of U.S. respondents said they had tried a vegetarian diet in the last 18 months. But this doesn’t include those who follow the diet for non-health reason.
- In a 2006 poll, 2.3% of respondents said they never eat meat, poultry, or seafood/fish. 1.4% said they didn’t eat dairy products or eggs (Harris poll commissioned by the Vegetarian Resource Group). In a joint 2003 Canadian-American dietetic association position paper, 2.5% of Americans were labelled vegetarians.
United Kingdom
In the UK, about 2% of the population is estimated to be vegetarian.
The vegetarian food market is estimated to be £718.5 million per year.
- In 2007, about 2% of 3,627 respondents to a UK Food Standards Agency survey identified themselves as “completely vegetarian”. An additional 5% self-identified as “partly vegetarian”.
- In England, 3% of people were vegetarian, and 5% were partly vegetarian.
- In Scotland, 1% were vegetarian, and 3% were partly vegetarian.
- The same study, conducted in 2006, found 2% of respondents were “completely vegetarian” and 7% were “partly vegetarian”. In Wales, 2% were vegetarian, and 4% partly vegetarian.
- The UK’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs completed a 2007 survey of 3618 adults. 3% of respondents were vegetarian, an additional 2% vegan, and an additional 5% ate only fish and/or chicken as well as vegetarian food.
Vegetarian in Households
- A 2006 Vegetarian Foods Market Assessment Report found that of 1000 adults over age 16, 12% were vegetarian or had someone in the household who was vegetarian. Of these respondents, 9.9% said they or someone in their house used to be a vegetarian.
- In 2005 only 4% of households had at least one vegetarian, and 5% had at least one pescatarian (did not eat meat but did eat fish). Vegetarianism was most popular among 26-35 year-olds (8% vegetarian), followed by 16-25 year-olds (7%) and finally older age groups (3%).
Who are the Vegetarians?
Females were slightly more likely than males to be vegan (3% vs. 2%) and vegtetarian (3% vs. 2%). The highest number of vegetarian/vegans was found in 16-29 year old females at 7%.
References and Resources:
- American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada. Vegetarian diets: position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada. 2003.
- Barnes, Patricia M., and Bloom, Barbara. National Health Statistics Reports. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults and Children: United States. 2007. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr012.pdf
- Cbc.ca: Holiday meals. Vegetarian alternatives. Available from: http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/food/vegetarian.html
- DEFRA: Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK). Survey of Public Attitudes and Behaviours toward the Environment: 2007. Available from: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/pubatt/
- Food Standards Agency – Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards Survey. 2007 and 2008.
- Key Note Vegetarian Foods Market Assessment Report. 2007. Available from:http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reportinfo.asp?report_id=552389
- Iposos-Reid Corporation, prepared for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Consumer Perceptions of Food Safety and Quality. 2004.
- NEMS Market Research. Key Note Vegetarian Foods Market Assessment Report. 2006.
- Sales of Tofu and Other Vegetarian Fares Up in Country. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/130455/eating_vegetarian_the_new_trend.html?cat=5
Copyright Jill Harris. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
