The 10 World’s Most Consumed of Animal Meat– There are 10 World’s Most Consumed of Animal Meat by humans based on data released by the FAO Statistical Database (FAOStat), United Nations (UN) in 2021 and 2022. However, as human needs a large amount of nutrition, animal meats can provide the nutritional of the human body so that it supports daily activities and can do something eagerly. In general, meat is something that comes from animals including the spleen, kidney, brain, and other tissues that can be eaten by humans and contains many important nutrients for the human body.
Here are the rank and description of 10 world's most consumed animal meat by humans based on data from the FAO Statistical database (FAOStat) in 2022 and 2021. This data shows the amount of meat that is produced the most in the world which are certainly in line with the demand for meat consumption. The higher the production of meat produced, of course, the higher the demand of meat for human consumption.
Table Rank 12 World’s Most Consumed Animal Meat by Humans
| Rank | Production of Meat | Total Meat Production (tons) | Tota Meat Production (tons) |
|---|---|---|---|
| in 2021 | in 2022 | ||
| 1 | Chicken | 120 Million tons | 123.6 Million tons |
| 2 | Pig | 120.9 Million tons | 122.5 Million tons |
| 3 | Cattle | 68 Million tons | 69.3 Million tons |
| 4 | Sheep (lamb) | 10 Million tons | 10.2 Million tons |
| 5 | Goat | 6.7 Million tons | 6.9 Million tons |
| 6 | Turkey | 6.2 Million tons | 6.3 Million tons |
| 7 | Duck | 6.2 Million tons | 6 Million tons |
| 8 | Buffalo | 5.3 Million tons | 5 Million tons |
| 9 | Geese | 4.3 Million tons | 4.4 Million tons |
| 10 | Rabbit | 757 Thousand tons | 775 Thousand tons |
| 11 | Horse | 870 Thousand tons | 756 Thousand tons |
| 12 | Camel | 576 Thousand tons | 604 Thousand tons |
Source: FAO Statistical Database (FAOSTAT), 2024
Brief Description World’s Most Consumed of Animal Meat
1.Chicken Meat
As one of the most slaughtered animals by humans in the world, chicken is one of the most popular poultry animal among the people of the world. Nutritionally, chicken meat is a highly nutritious food ingredient that is easy to obtain / economically affordable, tastes good, and has a soft texture, so it is widely loved by the world and is commonly used to meet the need for protein.
Historically, chicken is expected came from Southwest Asia and has spread across the nations. Commonly, there are some of popular breed of chicken for meat productions. Some of the chicken are Cornish Cross, Bresse, Buckeye, Chantecler, Croad Langshan, Delaware, Dorking, Egyptian Fayoumi, Freedom Ranger, Ginger Broiler, Jersey Giant, Kosher King, New Hampshire Red, Orpington, Turken. Statistically, chicken meat still becomes the world's most consumed of meat by humans in 2022.
In 2022, the world’s production of chicken meat reached 123 million tons. Based on the countries producers, United States of America (USA), China, Brazil, Russia, and Indonesia still become the biggest country producers of chicken meat in 2022. Most of their production are to fulfil the domestic consumptions.
2. Pig Meat / Pork
Historically, pigs were domesticated in Mesopotamia around 13,000 BC and still become one of the most raised animals in the world. Commonly, there are some popular breeds of pig for meat production. Some of them are Berkshire, Chester White, Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace, Poland China, Spotted, and Yorkshire. Pork is one of the livestock products with has popular meat in some countries especially China, the people of the Americas, Europe, and several asian countries. Statistically, China still is the world's largest pork's country producer, followed by the United States.
Nutritionally, pork contains nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals, and a lot of thiamin (vitamin B1). These substances help the digest organ to process carbohydrates and support the work of the nervous system. In 2022, the production of Pig Meat all over the world achieved 122 million tons. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2022, the countries that has highest production of Pig meat are China, United States of America, Germany, Spain, and Brazil.
3.Cattle Meat / Beef
Beef is one of the foodstuffs from cattle that contains nutrients in the form of water, protein, fat, minerals, and a small number of carbohydrates. Basically, beef/ cattle's meat still becomes one of the most favored meats in the world and many people knows with any kind of beef steak that all most people in the world know how delicious steak made up from beef. Besides goat, beef is one of the most popular types of meat for livestock. Commonly, threre are some popular of cattle species for beef production. Specifically, some of the cattle species are Angus, Belted Galloway, Brahman, Charolais, Dexter, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Holstein, Limousin, Piedmontese, Red Angus, Scottish Highland, Shorthorn, Simmental, Texas Longhorn, Watusi. Statistically, beef is ruminant meat with huge production all over the world of 2021 and 2022.
Furthermore in 2022, the beef production was around 69 million tons according to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT). In addition, some of the countries that has huge production of cattle's meat are United States of America, Brazil, China, Argentina, and Australia.
4.Sheep Meat
Lamb comes from sheep which are usually slaughtered when they are between one month and one year old. In this world, some of of the popular sheep species which is raised for meat, namely Suffolk, Cheviot, Charollais, Katahdin, Icelandic Sheep, Tunis Barbari, Blackbelly, Welsh Mountain Sheep, Shropshire, Texel, Dorset Horn, Hampshire Down, Rambouillet, Dorper, and Romney.
In 2022, the world’s sheep meat production around 10.2 million tons. Based on the countries, China, Australia, New Zealand, Algeria, Turkiye, and United Kingdom still become the biggest producers of sheep meat in 2022.
5.Goat Meat
Goats are widely spread across the world and its meeat have become the source of human nutrition since the early time of human civilization. Commonly, to date, there are some popular of goat breeds for meat production including Boer goat, Spanish goat, Savanna goat, Myotonic goat, Kiko Goat, Texmaster goat, Tennessee goat, Kalahari Red, and Pygmy goats.
In addition, in the year of 2022, the World’s Goat meat production still in 6.3 million tons. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), there are some countries with has huge production of goat meat and become the biggest producers in the world. these countries include China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Bangladesh
6.Turkey Meat
Turkey's meat also become one of the most favorables meats and the biggest consumers of this meat comes from Europe and the United States of America. Basically, meat from this species are served at Thanksgiving (The United States and Canada) and Christmas. Based on its species, there are some popular breeds of turkey for meat productions. These are Beltsville Small White Turkey, Black Spanish Turkey, Bourbon Red Turkey, Broad-Breasted White Turkey, Bronze Turkey, Midget White Turkey, Royal Palm Turkey, Slate Turkey, and White Holland Turkey.
The World’s production of Turkey Meat in 2022 reached 6 million tons according to FAO Statistical Corporate Database. Statistically, based on countries regions, United States of America, Brazil, Germany, Poland, and France still become the the biggest producers of turkey’s meat in 2022.
7.Duck Meat
Duck is one type of meat that some people like. Nutritionally, in every 100-gram duck meat and skin has a few mineral nutrients such as Copper, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, and Zinc. In addition to mineral content, duck meat also contains vitamins such as Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.
Based on meat productions, there are some popular of duck breeds for meat productions. These species include Pekin duck, Rouen duck, Muscovy duck, Jumbo Pekin duck, Swedish, Khaki Campbell, Magpie, moulard, and Aylesbury duck. In Chinese Cuisine, Duck meat was very popular in several dishes, namely Peking duck, Braised duck, Salted duck, Tea-smoked duck, and Duck blood and vermicelli soup.
Furthermore, the World’s production of Duck meat in 2022 achieved 6 million tons. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), there are some countries with have huge productions of duck meat, namely China, France, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Republic of Korea.
8.Buffalo Meat
Buffalo also has become one of the most favorable meat. In terms of buffalo meat production, there are some popular of buffalo breeds, namely Murrah, Surti, Nili Ravi, Kundhi, Mehsana, Bhadawari, Carabao, Jafarabadi, Azi-kheli. In some areas in Indonesia, such as in Toraja, South Sulawesi, buffalo became superexpensive animals with high aesthetic value.
Meanwhile in 2022, the buffalo’s meat production reached 6.9 million tons. Based on the country’s regions production in 2022, India, Pakistan, China, Egypt, and Nepal has huge production of buffalo meat and still become biggest producers of all nations in the world.
9.Geese Meat
One of the other popular meats is geese meat. Geese meat is also in great demand by the world as a source of nutrition. In addition, there are some countries with the biggest production of geese meat. Those countries are China, Egypt, Myanmar, Madagaskar, and Taiwan.
Commonly, there are some popular breeds of goose for meat productions. Some of these geese are Embden goose, Pilgrim, Toulouse goose, African goose, and Chinese goose. Relating to the culinary, there are some popular cuisines made from geese meat. These dishes are Gänsebraten, Martinigans, Stegt gås.
10.Rabbit Meat
Rabbits (Lepus nigricollis) are a group of animals that are extremely popular because of its cuteness. In addition to aesthetic benefits, rabbit meat is delicious and some people like with rabbit meat. Based on its species, there are some popular rabbit breed for meat production. Some of them are New Zealand, California, Flemish giant, American Chinchilla rabbit, Argente, Creme D’Argent, Florida White, Harlequin, Palomino, Satin, and Silver Fox rabbits. In some countries, there are some cuisines made from rabbit meat, namely Lapin à la moutarde, Coniglio all’ischitana, Fenkata, Conejo al ajillo.
Statistically, this meat is generally consumed in Europe, the Americas, and parts of the Middle East. Rabbit meat has fine fibers and slightly pale color, so rabbit meat can be grouped into white meat groups like chicken meat. The high content of protein and unsaturated fatty acids make rabbit meat as an excellent for maintaining healthy body tissues. Statistically, in 2022, the world's production of rabbit’s meat reached 870 thousand tons. Some of the countries with have huge productions rabbit’s meat include China, North Korea, Egypt, Russia, and Ukraine.
11. Horse Meat
Horse meat still one of the world's most favorable meats. Based on the various culinary, there are some popular of dishes made from horse meat. These dishes are Qarta, Zhaya, Zhal, Laħam taż-żiemel, Pastissada de caval, Pezzetti di cavallo, Polpette di cavallo, and Basashi. In 2022, the world’s production of horse meat reached 775 thousand tons. Based on the countries bases, there are some countries which has become country's biggest producers including Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, Mexico, and Russia.
12. Camel Meat
Camel meat is the another meat that has huge production in Middle-east and Africa regions. Based on the dishes, there are some popular dishes from camel meat. These are Camel Meat Kabsa, Cemel Burger, Camel Marinade, Camel Meat Karahi, and Saba Butt, Machboos, majboos, mishkak, muthal, biryani, reshmi kebab. In 2022, statistically, the world’s production of Camel’s meat reached 604 thousand tons. Based on the countries bases, there are some countries with huge production include Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia.
Source Article 10 World’s Most Consumed of Animal Meat
FAO Statistical Database. Livestock Primary (Meat Total List). Accessed via http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QL on April 20th, 2024.