Wow! Is it true that 10% of the USA is vegetarian?

Question

How many vegetarians and vegans (approx.) in the USA?

Answer 1

I don't think so... -I mean, -Where's the Beef ??!  :0

Answer 2

There is no way of knowing of course, but Chef J's figure of 2.8% is probably nearer the mark.

This is the second time in two days I've seen someone express the belief that vegetarianism is widespread in the UK. Somebody expressed surprise the other day that a UK meat-eater wouldn't know what to serve vegans, and here somebody claims the percentage of vegetarians in the UK is much higher than in the US.

I believe Britain has the highest percentage of vegetarians in Europe, but it's still a low percentage. The Vegetarian Society claims 7%, but I think that's an exaggeration.

Answer 3

The most recent article I found about this is from September of 04... which is needless to say, a little outdated.

According to that article, 2.8% of American's claim they are vegetarian. Another 6-10% said they were "almost vegetarian" and who knows what that means... pescetarian? Half-vegetarian? And then another 20-25% said they are "vegetarian inclined", meaning they purposely reduce the amount of meat in their diet.

I know personally, just from my own grocery shopping and being in the restaurant industry that the availability (and therefore sales) of vegetarian meat substitutes has skyrocketed, as well as the availability of organic produce, and you don't always have to go to a farmer's market now to get local produce, some regular grocery stores (at least in my area) are willingly carrying local products and produce. They most definitely wouldn't do this on their own, but when people demand change, stores have no choice but to listen, or lose business.

Even Wal-Mart brand milk doesn't contain bovine growth hormone anymore, which is an enormous step from a Fortune 500 company.

So I've rambled, haha... as to your question, I don't know if a solid 10% of the US population is vegetarian, but it has to have gone up quite a bit, at least since that article was published. The product availability suggests a large market for it.

Answer 4

I doubt it. There are far too many pescatarians who say they are vegetarians, and the numbers are fluctuating all the time with fickle and faddy people - mostly young women. I think of the US as being pretty anti vegetarian. In the UK it is not particularly unusual, but it depends where you are. I know very few vegetarians where I live.

Answer 5

(Counts real quick)

yeah it looks close. Wait a second that one is eating fish!!!

also 87% of all lies that have a number in them are believed 8 out of 10 times

Answer 6

Sorry to dampen your enthusiasm but no not even close to 10%. The acceptable figure is approximately 2-3% of which 1% is vegan. So that means  2-3 people for every 100 (about 6 million total) you will meet would be vegetarian and 2-3 people for every 1000 will be vegan (about 60,000). Of course, densities would change depending in where you live. A higher density would probably exist in urban centers and that much lower in rural areas.

In the UK ,as Lo_mcg mentioned, the figure is about 5%. The number for the US was initially pegged at about 5% until it was determined that many people who claim to be vegtarians actually consumed fish/seafood and chicken/fowl  on a regular basis.

Because of India's hugher vegetarian density and it's arge population, the world wide number is said to be around 10-12%. But there is no real way to confirm as many people are "forced" vegetarians meaning they are so not  by choice but other factors such as economic or religous reasons. for example a very poor familhy may not be able to afford  meat and will therefore qualify as vegetarians but would eat meat if given the chance.

Answer 7

I am pretty sure that it is much less than that.

Answer 8

Yes , around 10% of my school are  vegetarian and vegans.

The lunchrooms offers vegetarian dishes and such , just because of the high number of them.

Many people are vegetarians but they dont brang or talk about it. This is in the U.S. if you go to the U.K. the numbers would be much higher.

Answer 9

I'm pretty sure its less

Answer 10

hopefully

Answer 11

That sounds high.