Based on early data from the National Nutrition Survey and other studies we estimate that about 2% of Australians are vegan. This is approximately 500,000 people.
Animal welfare ranks first among the main reasons why Australians choose to follow a vegan or vegetarian diet (at 35%). Health comes in second (27%) and the environment in third (21%). Religious, financial and other reasons combine to 16 per cent.
India is thought to have the most vegetarians globally, with up to 42% of the population avoiding meat products.
The Food and You 2 survey uses a larger number of survey participants and at present is the most accurate estimate. The number of vegans in Great Britain quadrupled between 2014 and 2019. In 2019 there were 600,000 vegans (1.21% of the population); 276,000 (0.46%) in 2016; and 150,000 (0.25%) in 2014.
China. This is one of those countries where you will find animal products in almost every dish. They commonly use lard in almost every dish and even chips are not safe for vegetarians. You have to be very alert if you are a pure vegetarian because waiters in most of the restaurants consider seafood as a vegetarian dish ...
The global vegan food market will grow from $16.05 billion in 2022 to $18.27 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.8%.
According to a recent study conducted by the Eco Experts, Switzerland is the top country in Europe to be vegetarian. The study looked at the number of veggie-friendly restaurants available, the annual meat consumption and the price of meat by the kilogram.
According to GreenQueen.com there is an estimated 2.6 million vegans in Europe. As there are approximately 746.4 million people in Europe that means that 2.6 / 746.4 = 0.00348 = 0.348% of Europeans are vegans.
The rise of vegan food
One of the biggest catalysts for the rise of meat free diet choices is of course the food itself. Food technology has come on leaps and bounds in the decades since the movement was established, and as a result vegan food catches the eye of more people than ever.
Australia is home to as many as 2.5 million vegans and vegetarians. 6% of the population is vegan. In the last decade, those following plant-based diets have increased by about 50% The east of Australia has the most number of vegans.
You can enjoy a filling, tasty vegan meal almost anywhere you eat in Australia. Most restaurants are now vegetarian or vegan-friendly! Ethnic restaurants often offer meat-free options; others will adjust the ingredients or cook something that may not be on the menu.
A national poll in 2019 suggested that 1 in 10 New Zealanders were vegetarian, up 3% from the year before. A larger scale national research project in 2021 found that 6% were vegetarian or vegan.
India is, in fact, the birthplace of vegetarianism. It is in fact deeply rooted in the culture and religion of the country and has even been ranked the lowest consumer of meat in the world.
Vegetarianism and veganism are growing trends in China. Public Radio International estimated in 2013 that 4-5% of China's population was vegetarian, representing over 50 million people.
“Germany has the highest rate of vegetarianism compared to its European neighbors. Today, vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians set food trends and the market for plant-based food shows extraordinary growth rates.”
1. Israel. Israel is considered one of the best sustainable countries in the world. The mix of the traditional Mediterranean diet and the strict dietary laws of Kosher food has made them get away from meat, dairy, and parve products.
About 5% of the population of France is vegetarian. Also a lot of young people in France have decided to go vegan in the recent times and hence vegetarianism has slowly started becoming popular in many parts of France other than the main cities like Paris.
Now that we have gotten to the bottom of the rumor that vegans age faster, we can conclude that being a vegan does not mean you will age faster. That said, high blood sugar levels and unbalanced diets can indeed lead to aging. This is also true for non-vegans, so the key is to be very careful about how you eat.
The reality is that you won't look like you're 25 forever – no matter how “clean” or “healthy” or your diet might be. While there are a variety of health benefits associated with following a vegan diet, eating a vegan diet won't make you age faster or slower in and of itself.
One answer is the huge environmental cost of industrialised animal farming. Today, the UN says meat and dairy (farmed livestock) accounts for 11.2% of manmade greenhouse gas emissions. But if we all went vegan, the world's food-related emissions would drop 68% within 15 years, limiting global warming.
Vegan Culture in Switzerland
The bigger cities in Switzerland like Zurich and Geneva are the most vegan friendly in general, with an array of vegan restaurants and shops.
Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine
The cuisine of Eritrea and Ethiopia is full of naturally plant-based dishes. This is largely due to the fasting tradition in the Orthodox Christian religion. Orthodox Christians abstain from all animal products for around 200 days each year, but plant-based foods are still permitted.
Is Greece vegan-friendly? Yes, Greece is an incredibly vegan-friendly country to visit. The Greek Mediterranean cuisine is aside from being vegan-friendly also one of the healthiest in the world, with the island of Ikaria even being a Blue Zone. The Greek kitchen mainly consists of fresh ingredients.