Which Countries Worldwide are the Best for Veggies and Vegans?

The Largest Populations of Vegetarians and Vegans

Perhaps the most obvious place to start, some countries have more vegetarians and vegans than others. This can be skewed by larger and smaller populations, so we will be talking about per-capita statistics, rather than overall numbers.

India is the most vegetarian country in the world[1]. Estimates vary from 20 to 39% of the population following some form of meat-free diet. This is based on long standing cultural and religious traditions discouraging the consumption of meat (and also often eggs). Vegetarians and vegans are spread throughout the country, although there are towns that have banned the sale of meat entirely.

Plant-based living is not restricted to India. There are millions of vegetarians all over the world.

Europe is home to tens of millions of Vegetarians and vegans according to most estimates. The same is true of both North and South America[2]. East Asia also has millions of vegetarians and vegans.

Europe and South America[3] are estimated to be the fastest growing parts of the world in terms of veggie and vegan per capita population.

India is the country with the most vegetarians, both as a total – 276,000,000, and as a proportion of the population – up to 39%.

Countries driving plant-based innovation

The next thing to consider is which countries are most involved in recent developments in plant-based alternatives. These countries represent the future of vegetarian and vegan innovation.

The Netherlands leads Europe on per-capita spend for plant-based alternatives, with 5.03 businesses producing plant-based protein alternatives per million people.[4].

Plant-based milk has become more popular across Europe (even in households that are not vegetarian or vegan). According to research, it is bought at least once a year by as much as 46% of Spanish households, 37% of German and 32% of UK households. 32% of households in the UK and Germany both also bought plant-based meat at least once a year – with 10% of Germans and 9% of Brits buying it regularly.[5]

What makes a country vegetarian-friendly?

Statistics aren’t the only way to judge a country’s suitability for Vegetarians and Vegans. These are some of the other categories you may choose to help you decide which countries are best for you as a veggie or vegan.

• Restaurant availability.

You don’t want to eat at home every day. Sometimes, you’d rather eat out at a restaurant or café. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always guarantee that you’ll find something suitable for your diet. The countries with the most vegan dining options at restaurants (per million people) are New Zealand, Australia and the UK[6].

• Supermarket choice.

When you do want to eat at home, one thing to be mindful of is the prevalence of vegetarian and vegan options in supermarkets. While you can almost always buy vegetables around the world, European countries do lead the way in availability of plant-based alternatives.

• Clear food labelling.

One perhaps under-rated aspect of a country’s suitability for veggies and vegans is how clearly it labels its food products. Certification schemes like the Vegetarian Society Approved trademark scheme allows companies to clearly demarcate which of their products are suitable for people who want to avoid certain foods. Alternatives around the world don’t always guarantee that a food is vegetarian, vegan or plant-based as clearly.

• Public awareness.

Clear public understanding of what vegetarian and vegan diets mean is key to a country being suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Germany, the UK, Austria and Switzerland lead Google searches for vegetarianism and veganism, hinting at greater public interest[7].

• Government support for sustainable diets.

If a country has greater governmental support for people to eat sustainable diets, such as vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, there will likely be greater access to those diets across the country. Denmark, for example, has given enormous public support to farmers who are transitioning from animal agriculture to plant horticulture – resulting in greater adoption of plant-based meals throughout the country[8].

According to HappyCow, London is the most vegan friendly city in the world, with the highest number of vegan restaurants.[9]

Cultural influences

Certain cultural influences affect how suitable a country is for vegetarians and vegans. These vary across the world, often overlapping – but these are a few of the most important.

• Religion (India, Buddhist countries).

Some religions worldwide either advocate for vegetarian diets, or discourage the eating of animals. Many of the religions that originate in India (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism) encourage vegetarian diets, resulting in hundreds of millions of people eating plant-based diets.

• Environmental awareness (Northern Europe).

A more recent development in people choosing meat-free diets is greater understanding of animal agriculture’s effect on the environment. This is something that people are becoming more aware of worldwide, but is particularly the case in Europe and North America.

• Health-conscious consumers (many Western countries).

Lots of people choose to avoid animal-based foods because they are concerned about their potential impact on their health. A wider understanding of these impacts might result in a greater availability of healthier plant-based dishes around the world.

• Cost of meat and food security concerns.

Meat can be expensive. Places with concerns over food security – both present and historical – can counterintuitively be some of those with the strongest commitments to vegetarian and plant-based cuisines.

Emerging markets to watch

Vegetarianism and veganism are sometimes thought of as either long-standing cultural traditions in South Asia, or modern diets popular in the West. This is increasingly not the case, as plant-based eating becomes more and more popular worldwide. Here are a few of the countries with growing veggie and vegan food scenes to consider.

• South Korea.

Meat eating has been a traditional part of South Korean culture for a long time. Avoiding meat and fish is also difficult, due to the historical presence of fish and shrimp in the sauces and pastes popular through Korean cooking. However, as many as 1.5 million people are now estimated to be vegetarian or vegan in the country as of 2020[10]. A native plant-based meat alternative called Gogi Daesin has been available for several years now, along with Western brands.

• Brazil.

In 2018, as many as 14% of Brazilians – approximately 30 million people – described themselves as vegetarian (or ‘partially vegetarian’)[11]. Some areas are estimated to have grown from 8% to 12% of the population not eating meat.

• Mexico.

Mexico is the country with the second highest proportion of the country professing vegetarianism and veganism. More than 23 million Mexicans – nearly 20% of the population self reported as not eating meat – a very high percentage for a country without the deep traditions of vegetarianism common to South Asia.

Asia is the fastest growing market for plant-based meat substitutes[12].

Challenges around the world

There are a number of potential impediments to adoption of meat-free diets. These aren’t necessarily reasons a place isn’t suitable for vegetarians or vegans, but they can make it more difficult.

• Cultural attachment to meat.

As we have previously reported – research shows that a deep cultural association of meat with particular elements of one’s culture can prevent adoption of a meat-free diet.

• Limited access to plant-based options in some regions.

Some parts of the world simply don’t offer the same ranges of vegetarian and vegan foods. Whether this is cultural, environmental or simply economic, some countries are harder to be vegetarian or vegan in because almost all of the dishes available contain meat or animal products to some degree.

• Affordability and food inequality.

Some parts of a vegetarian diet can be more expensive than a meat-eating diet. Plant-based meat replacements often cost more than their meat counterparts – particularly in countries that are experiencing economic difficulties. This can reduce access to vegetarian options in restaurants and supermarkets.

Interested in joining a community of vegetarians and vegans all across the UK? By joining the Vegetarian Society for as little as £3 a month, you gain access to a community of likeminded people who share your concern for animals, the planet and their health.

You can also take a look at our recipe collection – with ideas for all tastes!

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism_by_country

[2] https://nielseniq.com/global/es/insights/report/2016/8-de-cada-10-mexicanos-afirma-seguir-algun-tipo-de-dieta-restrictiva/

[3] https://elmilenio.info/2020/11/05/cuantos-veganos-y-vegetarianos-hay-en-argentina/

[4] https://www.foodbev.com/news/new-global-report-reveals-top-markets-for-plant-based-innovation

[5] https://gfieurope.org/industry/european-consumer-insights-on-the-alternative-protein-sector/

[6] https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/news/best-countries-for-vegans-revealed/

[7] https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=%2Fm%2F07_hy

[8] https://gfieurope.org/blog/denmark-publishes-worlds-first-national-action-plan-for-plant-based-foods/

[9] https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/food/top-vegan-cities-in-the-world/

[10] https://thediplomat.com/2020/12/more-and-more-south-koreans-are-going-vegetarian/

[11] https://www.ihu.unisinos.br/categorias/188-noticias-2018/579217-14-dos-brasileiros-se-declaram-vegetarianos-mostra-pesquisa-ibope

[12] https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/meat-substitutes-market