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How much meat people eat in Russia and worldwide: comparison of countries and regions

How much meat people eat in Russia and worldwide: comparison of countries and regions

· Living standards

In 2023 one resident of Russia ate on average 74 kilograms of meat and meat products. This is more than in Germany and Italy (both 71 kg), and noticeably less than the leaders: in the United States and Australia it was 122 and 117 kg. Below is a comparison of 33 countries since 2010, then the regions of Russia, where the spread is even larger: from 44 kg per year in Chukotka to 103 kg in Kalmykia. All charts open on the website in full, they can be reassembled for your own countries and regions.

How much meat people eat in Russia: dynamics since 2010

According to Rosstat, consumption of meat and meat products per capita in Russia is growing almost without pause:

Year2010201520192020202120222023
kg per person per year63676970717274

Over thirteen years the increase was 11 kilograms, or about 17%. The figures are given in terms of meat only, without lard and offal. This is an important caveat: in other summaries meat is counted together with fat and offal, and then the total is higher. Such discrepancies are normal, and from now on I will always specify which methodology is used.

If you need the price of the question rather than the quantity, it is covered separately: prices for meat by year. And the overall picture of nutrition, where meat stands alongside milk, potatoes and eggs, is shown in the article consumption of products in Russia by year.

Russia and the World: Who Eats the Most

Rosstat compiled a table of 33 countries. Let’s look at 2023 (Japan’s latest data are for 2022, at 60 kg).

Highest meat consumption per capita:

Lowest:

Russia, at 74 kg, sits near the middle of the list: ahead of almost all Western Europe and Belarus, behind Poland (64 kg), Kazakhstan (66), Bulgaria (64) and the Central Asian countries.

Meat consumption per capita, kg per year: Russia, United States, Germany, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine in 2010-2023
Meat consumption per capita, kg per year: Russia, United States, Germany, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine in 2010-2023

The chart shows that Russia is catching up not only in level but also in trend. It is the only country shown where the line rises without drops. In the United States consumption stays around 120 kg. In Germany it falls: 90 kg in 2010 and 71 kg in 2023. Kazakhstan reached 78 kg by 2020 and then slipped to 66. Ukraine fell from 53 to 46 kg in 2022 and was at 49 in 2023.

Open the dataset “Meat and meat product consumption per capita in Russia and countries of the world” and select any countries from the 33.

Where meat consumption decreased

Rich European countries are eating less meat. Austria: from 100 kg in 2010 to 87 kg in 2023. France: from 91 to 80. Italy: from 91 to 71. Germany: from 90 to 71. So over thirteen years Germans and Italians reduced their meat diet by a fifth, while Russians increased theirs by a sixth.

Where meat consumption increased noticeably

The fastest growth is where consumption was low. Moldova: from 36 to 65 kg, almost twice. Vietnam: from 41 to 60 kg. Japan: from 46 to 60 kg by 2022. Tajikistan rose from 11 to 24 kg, but it remains the lowest figure in the table.

Meat by regions of Russia: variation of more than double

The Rosstat regional table goes up to 2021 and counts meat without offal of the second category and fat‑lard, as the international one does. Therefore the figures are comparable: for the country in 2021 the amount is 71 kg, exactly the same as in the international table for that year.

Within the country the picture is as follows.

Most meat per capita (2021):

Least:

The gap between Kalmykia and Chukotka is more than twofold. Why this is so, the table does not explain: it contains only numbers. Another curiosity: Kalmykia's figure has hardly changed (105 kg in 2011, 103 in 2021), while Altai and Pskov rose from 75 and 68 kg. Chukotka has stayed between 43 and 51 kg for all ten years.

Moscow region and Moscow

An interesting contrast within the Central Federal District. Moscow region consumes 97 kg per person, while the city of Moscow only 76 kg. Saint Petersburg is at 72 kg. The table does not give a reason, it shows only the final numbers. It can only be noted that Moscow's figure has hardly changed: 76 kg in 2011 and 76 in 2021.

Federal districts: where people eat more

The highest consumption in 2021 is in the Central Federal District: 77 kg. It is followed by the Northwestern (75 kg), Far Eastern (75 kg), Southern (68 kg), Siberian (68 kg). The Volga and Ural districts are at 66 kg each. The list closes with the North‑Caucasian district: 56 kg, but it is growing the fastest. In 2011 it was 47 kg, a ten‑year increase of 9 kg.

Meat consumption, kg per person per year: Russia and federal districts in 2011‑2021
Meat consumption, kg per person per year: Russia and federal districts in 2011‑2021

The chart shows that the districts are converging. The Central district rose from 72 to 77 kg, and the North‑Caucasian from 47 to 56. The gap between the highest and lowest district narrowed from 25 to 21 kg.

Who grew and who fell behind: over ten years by region

Average numbers hide large movements within regions. Over ten years, from 2011 to 2021:

Meat consumption, kg per person per year: Russia, Altai Republic, Pskov Oblast, Saratov Oblast and Dagestan
Meat consumption, kg per person per year: Russia, Altai Republic, Pskov Oblast, Saratov Oblast and Dagestan

Pskov Oblast is interesting because growth accelerated only from 2019: before 2018 it was no more than 85 kg, then suddenly 93, 97 and 100. In Saratov Oblast the picture is opposite: a sharp drop from 60 to 49 kg in 2011‑2015 and after that a slight rebound to 51‑53.

Open the regional dataset “Meat and meat product consumption in Russia by region”: it contains 91 rows, find your region.

Frequently asked questions

How much meat does one Russian eat per year?

In 2023, 74 kilograms per person according to Rosstat, calculated for meat only, without lard and offal. In 2010 it was 63 kilograms.

Which country eats the most meat?

Among the 33 countries in the Rosstat table, the top places are held by the United States (122 kg per person per year) and Australia (117 kg).

Do Russians eat more meat than Germans?

Yes. In 2023 Russians ate 74 kg, while Germans ate 71 kg. Back in 2010 it was the opposite: 63 kg versus 90.

Which region of Russia eats the most meat?

Kalmykia and the Altai Republic: 103 kg per person in 2021. The least is in Chukotka (44 kg) and Dagestan (45 kg).

Why do different sources give different numbers?

Because of methodology. Some summaries count meat together with lard and offal, others without them. For comparing countries and regions in this article the same Rosstat methodology is used everywhere: calculated for meat without lard and offal.

Briefly

See also