Global meat consumption has nearly doubled since 1961, with chicken demand rising 600%, according to a new FAO report. Discover the implications for food security, climate change, livestock markets, and the future of global protein consumption.

Global Meat Consumption Explodes as Chicken Demand Surges 600%, FAO Report Warns of Climate and Food Security Challenges

Global meat consumption is undergoing a historic transformation. A landmark report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reveals that the average person now consumes six times more chicken and twice as much pork than in 1961, highlighting a dramatic shift in global dietary patterns that is reshaping agriculture, food security, and climate policy worldwide.

The findings underscore a fundamental reality of the modern global economy: as populations grow, incomes rise, and urbanization accelerates, demand for animal protein continues to climb despite increasing concerns about environmental sustainability and public health.

For investors, policymakers, agribusiness leaders, and food industry executives, the report provides critical insight into one of the most powerful long-term trends influencing global markets—the relentless growth of meat consumption.

Chicken Has Become the World's Favorite Protein

The biggest winner in the global protein revolution is poultry.

According to the FAO analysis, average per-capita chicken supply rose from less than 3 kilograms annually in 1961 to approximately 17 kilograms in 2022. That represents a staggering sixfold increase over six decades.

This growth has transformed poultry from a relatively minor source of protein into the dominant force within the global meat industry.

Several powerful economic factors explain chicken's rise:

• Lower production costs than beef and pork
• Faster breeding and processing cycles
• Greater affordability for consumers
• Higher feed conversion efficiency
• Strong consumer perception as a healthier protein option

As food inflation remains a concern in many economies, poultry continues to offer an attractive balance between affordability and nutritional value.

Industry forecasts suggest that poultry will remain the fastest-growing segment of global meat markets through at least 2034. Global poultry consumption is expected to account for the majority of future meat demand growth worldwide.

Pork Consumption Continues Its Global Expansion

While chicken has captured most of the headlines, pork remains one of the world's most important protein sources.

The FAO report found that global pork supply doubled from approximately 7 kilograms per person in 1961 to around 15 kilograms in 2022.

Pork remains especially dominant across East Asia, where it continues to serve as a dietary staple for hundreds of millions of consumers.

China alone represents a major force in global pork markets. Despite changing demographics and slower consumption growth, pork consumption remains substantially higher than chicken consumption in China.

Globally, pork still accounts for roughly one-third of all meat consumed, making it a crucial component of agricultural supply chains and international food trade.

Global Meat Supply Has Nearly Doubled

Perhaps the most significant finding from the FAO report is the scale of overall growth in meat availability.

Average global meat supply increased from approximately 25 kilograms per person in 1961 to 47 kilograms in 2022.

This increase reflects several powerful macroeconomic trends:

Rising Global Incomes

As countries develop economically, consumers typically allocate a greater portion of their food budgets toward animal proteins.

Rapid Urbanization

Urban populations often consume more meat due to increased access to modern food distribution networks and processed food products.

Agricultural Innovation

Advances in genetics, animal nutrition, veterinary medicine, and industrial farming practices have dramatically increased production efficiency.

Global Trade Expansion

International supply chains have made meat products more accessible than ever before, connecting producers and consumers across continents.

The result has been an unprecedented expansion of global livestock production. Data from international agricultural sources show that total meat production has risen dramatically since the 1960s, becoming one of the largest sectors of the global food economy.

Food Security Remains Unequal

Despite record levels of meat production, access to animal-based foods remains highly uneven.

The FAO report highlights a major paradox within the global food system: while high-income countries are often encouraged to reduce meat consumption, many low-income nations still face significant barriers to obtaining sufficient animal protein.

Animal-source foods remain expensive relative to household income in many developing economies.

This disparity has major implications for nutrition because animal proteins provide:

• Complete proteins
• Vitamin B12
• Iron
• Zinc
• Essential amino acids

For children and vulnerable populations, access to these nutrients can significantly influence health outcomes and long-term development.

As a result, policymakers face a difficult challenge: improving food security while simultaneously reducing environmental impacts associated with livestock production.

The Climate Challenge Behind Rising Meat Demand

The report arrives amid growing concern about agriculture's role in climate change.

Agriculture is now one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions globally, and livestock production accounts for a substantial share of those emissions. According to the FAO review, livestock could be responsible for roughly 80% of projected increases in agricultural emissions over the next decade.

Environmental researchers identify several key drivers:

• Methane emissions from livestock
• Land-use change and deforestation
• Feed crop cultivation
• Water consumption
• Biodiversity loss
• Manure management

Animal agriculture is estimated to contribute between 12% and 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

These realities have intensified debates surrounding sustainable diets and the future role of animal protein in a decarbonizing global economy.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has repeatedly identified dietary shifts toward more plant-based food systems as a potentially powerful strategy for reducing emissions. However, implementation remains politically and culturally complex.

Why Poultry Is Winning the Sustainability Debate

One reason chicken continues to gain market share is its comparatively lower environmental footprint.

Studies consistently show that poultry production generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of protein than beef production while requiring less land and fewer resources.

Consumers increasingly recognize these advantages.

In many developed economies, dietary preferences are shifting away from beef and toward chicken, reflecting concerns about health, affordability, and sustainability. Future consumption forecasts indicate that poultry will provide nearly half of all meat-derived protein globally within the next decade.

This transition is likely to remain one of the defining trends shaping global agriculture.

Waste Reduction Could Transform Food Systems

The FAO report also identifies food waste as a major area for improvement.

Approximately 14% of meat and dairy products are lost during production or wasted after reaching retailers and food-service businesses.

Reducing waste could improve food security while lowering environmental pressures without requiring substantial increases in agricultural output.

Experts argue that investments in logistics, refrigeration infrastructure, supply-chain management, and consumer education could generate significant gains in efficiency across global food systems.

The Future of Global Meat Markets

Despite the rapid growth of plant-based alternatives and alternative proteins, the broader trajectory remains clear.

Global meat consumption continues to rise.

Forecasts from the OECD and FAO indicate that total meat demand will expand substantially through 2034, with poultry leading growth due to its affordability, nutritional profile, and lower environmental impact compared with other major livestock categories.

At the same time, the industry faces mounting pressure to address greenhouse gas emissions, antimicrobial resistance, biodiversity loss, and resource efficiency. Recent FAO research also warns that antibiotic use in livestock could increase significantly without stronger regulation and improved farming practices.

The global meat industry now stands at a crossroads.

The challenge is no longer simply producing more food. It is producing enough food to feed a growing population while minimizing environmental damage and ensuring equitable access to nutrition.

The FAO report makes one conclusion unavoidable: meat consumption will remain a defining force in global food systems for decades to come, but the future winners will be those producers, governments, and food companies capable of balancing growth with sustainability.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/05/global-meat-supply-chicken-pork-fao-report