How many Vegetarians are there world wide? - VeggieBoards

Y2king · August 7th, 2004, 01:13 PM

How many Vegetarians are there world wide? or even in each country?

boquist1 · August 7th, 2004, 03:26 PM

The numbers I have seen say 2 to 3 percent of US population are strict vegetarians. That would put a number like something on the order of 5 million in the US.

Vegetarian leaning, meaning people who are trying to lessen their consumption of meat to eat little meat, or eat it infrequently is much higher,...on order of 15 to 20 percent.

There are lots of conflicting stats on this question. However, directionally they are in similar ranges.

John

August 7th, 2004, 04:59 PM

I think alot of the figures are exaggerated, myself, which isn't uncommon when the source of the stats is also a group trying to rally support for a cause. I think there are probably less than 1% that are even vegetarian, and probably a fraction of that are vegan, considering the way people give me that confused dog turn of the head when I tell them, "I don't eat that."

The Rev

kat · August 7th, 2004, 05:27 PM

Everybody who is veggie, put your hands up and I'll count.

Er 1, 2, 3, 7, 6,8

sorry got mixed up there....

**Indian Summer** · August 7th, 2004, 05:46 PM

I would guess the bulk of the world vegetarian population is found in India. I'm not certain about the exact number, but I've seen an estimate that says 20% of the population are veg*ns. (I've also seen estimates as high as 50%, but I believe that figure is way too high.) 20% would yield about 210 million veg*ns in India alone. China supposedly also has a fair number of veg*ns: 14%, which yields about 180 million. Source.

Tropikiwi · August 8th, 2004, 01:35 AM

I'd say not enough!

RedWingsFan · August 8th, 2004, 11:26 PM

According to the American Dietetic Association there are around 3% of the U.S. population that is actual vegetarian (doesn't eat fish/chicken and claim to be a vegetarian). With less than half of a percent of those being vegan. They also say that Canada has 4% population of vegetarian. There are religions that advocate a vegetarian diet, such as Hinduism and Budhism (like in India, China, etc.), however, more and more they are taking on western customs and adding meat to their diet. A lot of them claim vegetarianism yet still put clam sauce in their rice dish (just an example). And besides, most large groups of vegetarians in the world are not so by choice, they are vegetarians for lack of meat and money to buy it. When given a choice most people choose to consume meat products.

boquist1 · August 8th, 2004, 11:42 PM

Numbers are hard to nail down, but as soon as ther is a big outbreak of mad cow, the number, whatever that is, will double.

As soon as people understand how horrific factory farming is, they will either go to organic meat, or quit alltogether.

John

Vicky · August 9th, 2004, 12:55 AM

i think we should take over the world

colorful · August 9th, 2004, 12:31 PM

I've often wondered if meat-eating, or at least our current factory farms, will someday be looked back on as horrific just as we look back on slavery, the holocaust, etc. If one day we won't be seen as radicals anymore... I don't know if it will ever happen, but I can hope!

August 7th, 2004, 01:13 PM	#1
Y2king Banned .Posts: 13 .Join Date: May 9th, 2004	How many Vegetarians are there world wide? How many Vegetarians are there world wide? or even in each country?

August 7th, 2004, 03:26 PM	#2
boquist1 Member .Posts: 114 .Join Date: October 16th, 2002	US Vegetarians The numbers I have seen say 2 to 3 percent of US population are strict vegetarians. That would put a number like something on the order of 5 million in the US. Vegetarian leaning, meaning people who are trying to lessen their consumption of meat to eat little meat, or eat it infrequently is much higher,...on order of 15 to 20 percent. There are lots of conflicting stats on this question. However, directionally they are in similar ranges. John

August 7th, 2004, 05:46 PM	#5
Indian Summer Senior Member .Posts: 3,097 .Join Date: May 21st, 2004 .Location: United Kingdom	I would guess the bulk of the world vegetarian population is found in India. I'm not certain about the exact number, but I've seen an estimate that says 20% of the population are vegns. (I've also seen estimates as high as 50%, but I believe that figure is way too high.) 20% would yield about 210 million vegns in India alone. China supposedly also has a fair number of veg*ns: 14%, which yields about 180 million. Source. __________________ A man can learn wisdom even from a foe. ~ Aristophanes

August 9th, 2004, 12:55 AM	#9
Vicky Ms. Driver .Posts: 4,605 .Join Date: June 22nd, 2004	i think we should take over the world __________________ I really wonder what gives us the right to wreck this poor planet of ours. - Kurt Vonnegut Get happy or die trying - VA~goth~UK

August 7th, 2004, 04:59 PM	#3
The Rev .Posts: n/a	I think alot of the figures are exaggerated, myself, which isn't uncommon when the source of the stats is also a group trying to rally support for a cause. I think there are probably less than 1% that are even vegetarian, and probably a fraction of that are vegan, considering the way people give me that confused dog turn of the head when I tell them, "I don't eat that." The Rev

August 7th, 2004, 05:27 PM	#4
kat Just so... .Posts: 1,856 .Join Date: September 3rd, 2003	Everybody who is veggie, put your hands up and I'll count. Er 1, 2, 3, 7, 6,8 sorry got mixed up there....

August 8th, 2004, 01:35 AM	#6
Tropikiwi Green Goddess .Posts: 110 .Join Date: February 10th, 2004	I'd say not enough!

August 8th, 2004, 11:26 PM	#7
RedWingsFan Member .Posts: 468 .Join Date: July 11th, 2004	According to the American Dietetic Association there are around 3% of the U.S. population that is actual vegetarian (doesn't eat fish/chicken and claim to be a vegetarian). With less than half of a percent of those being vegan. They also say that Canada has 4% population of vegetarian. There are religions that advocate a vegetarian diet, such as Hinduism and Budhism (like in India, China, etc.), however, more and more they are taking on western customs and adding meat to their diet. A lot of them claim vegetarianism yet still put clam sauce in their rice dish (just an example). And besides, most large groups of vegetarians in the world are not so by choice, they are vegetarians for lack of meat and money to buy it. When given a choice most people choose to consume meat products.

August 8th, 2004, 11:42 PM	#8
boquist1 Member .Posts: 114 .Join Date: October 16th, 2002	Numbers are hard to nail down, but as soon as ther is a big outbreak of mad cow, the number, whatever that is, will double. As soon as people understand how horrific factory farming is, they will either go to organic meat, or quit alltogether. John

August 9th, 2004, 12:31 PM	#10
colorful Senior Member .Posts: 2,169 .Join Date: July 27th, 2004	I've often wondered if meat-eating, or at least our current factory farms, will someday be looked back on as horrific just as we look back on slavery, the holocaust, etc. If one day we won't be seen as radicals anymore... I don't know if it will ever happen, but I can hope!