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Countries That Eat the Most Pork

Which countries consume the most pork per capita?
Data for the year 2020. Source: ourworldindata.org.
Color coded by continent
Quiz by kalbahamut
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Last updated: November 6, 2023
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First submittedJune 9, 2013
Times taken33,127
Average score60.0%
Rating4.12
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Keep scrolling down for answers and more stats ...
Kg
Country
54.1
Poland
51.9
Spain
49.7
Croatia
48.3
Lithuania
47.9
Hungary
45.5
Austria
45.3
Czechia
Kg
Country
44.3
Serbia
44.3
Germany
43.2
Montenegro
38.9
Slovakia
38.5
Vietnam
38.4
Belarus
38.3
Taiwan
Kg
Country
38.2
Latvia
38.0
South Korea
37.7
Portugal
37.7
Estonia
35.9
Cyprus
35.7
China
+8
Level 82
Jun 10, 2013
Funny.. almost all of these countries are in Europe, and yet the two countries that are not in Europe are so far the only two that everyone has guessed.
+2
Level 82
Jun 12, 2013
oh, whoops. There are 3 countries not in Europe. Forgot about one of them.. currently at 31%. Better than Montenegro.
+5
Level 57
Jul 19, 2016
Are you sure Serbia is not on the list? We eat a lot of bacon, and we are culturally very close to Montenegro.
+4
Level 82
Jul 19, 2016
You can try to look it up if you want to. I got the information from FAOSTAT. It's not in a neat and easy-to-read list format like on most Wikipedia pages.
+1
Level 74
Aug 19, 2016
Technically 4 ;-)
+2
Level 82
Feb 12, 2021
The 4th is culturally and gastronomically in Europe. :) but with the latest data not on the list anymore, anyway.
+10
Level 71
Mar 31, 2021
I feel like East Asia is pretty famous for its pork consumption. I guessed all of those countries before turning to Europe.
+3
Level 82
Dec 7, 2013
You ought to put this on the front page on March 1st for National Pig Day
+3
Level 82
Oct 3, 2014
And October is National Pork Month. Just sayin'...
+3
Level 82
Jul 5, 2015
October coming around the bend again.... oink...
+17
Level 82
Feb 12, 2021
Looks like we finally made it this year.
+1
Level 76
Nov 7, 2023
vindication!
+8
Level 67
Apr 1, 2014
Interesting quiz. :)

I knew Austria and Germany had to be at the top of the list (the Wiener Schnitzel, Schweinebraten, etc.), haha. I also knew my home country (Slovenia) had to be on the list because a lot of people over here really do eat pork a lot (I personally don't like it all that much, but yeah).

The only two I missed were Vietnam and Cyprus. I'm actually surprised about Cyprus. Since there is a substantial Turkish population there (and they're muslim, so they weren't supposed to eat pork), I just assumed there was no way it could ever be on the list.

+3
Level 82
Apr 2, 2014
I was also a little surprised by Cyprus. I suppose the Greek and European half of the island's identity won out over the Turkish/Asian/Muslim half.
+9
Level 82
Oct 26, 2016
Is it sure though that the Turkish part is included in the statistics?
+2
Level 82
Oct 26, 2016
I don't know. Probably not.
+1
Level 29
Apr 7, 2021
If that was true, Greece would have surely made the list. So I would believe it's just people who don't follow Islam seriously.
+1
Level 65
Sep 22, 2023
Most are Greek Orthodox, and the Turkish minority might be excluded bc Northern Cyprus. And, again, MOST OF THEM ARE GREEK ORTHODOX!!!
+8
Level 83
Apr 30, 2018
If it's done properly, Wiener Schnitzel is made from veal. Pork is cheaper, though, so many places try to cut corners and use pork instead.
+5
Level 77
Jul 15, 2014
Surprised how neighbouring countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia are so far from each other in consumption of pork. I thought the culture in those was similar too? Another that might be explained by religion differences or something is Montenegro - Macedonia. Guess which one I included in my guesses? :)

I think so many are in Europe because 1) 1st world countries eat more meat in general, 2) there's fewer people with religion limiting it, 3) Countries like USA, Australia, Japan have a bigger variety of meats (and seafoods) available to them or then beef is cheaper in general as well?

+3
Level 70
Feb 13, 2021
I live in NYC, not exactly a food desert, yet it's very difficult to find veal and lamb, let alone rabbit or duck. Beef and chicken reign supreme and sadly crowd everything else out.
+7
Level 68
Mar 31, 2021
What the hell are you talking about "greater variety of meats available"? Europeans eat pork because they like it, not because they can't get anything else. Have you ever even been to Europe? Can you imagine how many different and varied cuisines there are in Europe? Can you imagine how many different pork recipes we have across Europe, using every single possible cut of the animal? This is just insane.
+3
Level 82
Mar 31, 2021
I never found any hashi kabsa anywhere in Europe. Though I wasn't looking particularly hard for it. Also never saw any whale bacon or shark fin soup or goat ankles or chicken feet or fried grasshopper or seasoned mealy worms or fetid duck fetus still in the shell... have come across all of those things in other places. I'm sure you can get all of the above and more somewhere in France, though. They will eat anything.
+2
Level 68
Apr 2, 2021
I'm not sure you could find these in France - I sure haven't seen many of them... Anyway, my point wasn't that you can find everything here, but that you can find far too great a diversity of dishes, animals, and cuisines in Europe, to attribute the pork-eating figures to "lack of choice".
+3
Level 51
Apr 2, 2021
I was surprised about Estonia as well, considering I had some delicious pork dishes in Tallinn. I did notice that Estonians eat more fish than Latvians, so that may explain the disparity.
+1
Level 75
Jul 16, 2014
The US might have scored higher before we started shipping so much pork to China.
+2
Level 60
Jan 19, 2024
I was genuinely surprised we weren't on here. Though it's honestly better that we aren't higher since we already have heart disease and diabetes as a leading cause of death. Also, I would assume China is capable of producing cheaper pork internally, right? I didn't realize they depended on us for this
+1
Level 60
Jan 19, 2024
I stand corrected, their unregulated meat production led to swine flu forcing them to import from elsewhere.
+1
Level 45
Jan 31, 2024
Desease is not the main cause, cost of production is. Animal farming in the US is substantial cheaper than almost anywhere else in the world.

Also worth notice is that China has a serious problem of a lack of arable lands, combined with the pressure of heavy pollution caused by animal industries, it's only sensible they'd import from US.

To say a recent outbreak of flu (which the US also experienced years ago) is the reason they've been importing for all these years does not paint the whole picture.

+3
Level 67
Feb 4, 2016
Surprised to see no UK on this list!

Bacon and sausages butties, Pork with Sunday dinners. I thought we'd be there for sure.

+3
Level 50
May 27, 2018
Yes. Especially when most other European countries made it.
+2
Level 68
Apr 2, 2021
Also, emulsified high-fat offal tubes!
+2
Level 72
Oct 7, 2023
You have to look at the competition. I mean, a kilo of pork a week every week, that is a serious amount of pork consumption.
+3
Level 56
Jul 15, 2019
Please accept Czechia
+2
Level 82
Jul 15, 2019
ok
+5
Level 74
Feb 13, 2021
I'm surprised by Montenegro, since they have a large Muslim minority. The others must really be bringing the average up.
+4
Level 82
Feb 13, 2021
I was only in Montenegro for a few days so I don't really know, but I know from spending time in many other Muslim countries that in some places they are strictly observant about halal dietary rules and in other places really not so much or not at all. Given how heavily pork features in most European cuisine, and how secular most of the Muslims I met in the Balkans were, it wouldn't surprise me if those in Montenegro fell into the latter category.
+3
Level 70
Jan 19, 2024
I find this unlikely, even Muslims who aren't practising tend to avoid pork. Maybe a non-practising Muslim will drink, but it is far less likely he or she will eat pork.
+3
Level 75
Feb 13, 2021
Are the quiz instructions a reference to something?
+4
Level 77
Feb 14, 2021
Serbian proverb: Until I taste a lion, a pig is the king of animals for me.
+4
Level 82
Feb 14, 2021
My ex told me that in Romania a popular joke is: "what are Romanians' favorite vegetable? Pork!"
+4
Level 36
Feb 16, 2021
Hungary sure is hungry :D
+2
Level 88
Feb 23, 2021
I was going to go with, "If they eat so much pork, why are they still Hungary..." but you beat me to it! ;)
+1
Level 79
Aug 24, 2023
Yours is a far better joke
+2
Level 66
Mar 15, 2021
Did not expect my country to be first :D
+1
Level 82
Mar 31, 2021
ciesz się swoją wieprzowiną
+2
Level 68
Mar 31, 2021
Pork is so incredibly versatile. I mean, I like bacon as much as the next guy, but I find that some people's cultural obsession with bacon (which, apparently, can be traced back to ad campaigns...) really limits their scope about all the wonderful and amazing other things you can do with pork. Speaking only of what I know, the sheer number of different types of charcuterie (which is cured meat, generally pork) you can find in countries like France, Germany, Italy, Spain... is nothing short of amazing. And I'm not even talking about all the other dishes you can do with pork: roasts, stews, soups... Pork is awesome!
+5
Level 69
Mar 31, 2021
No need to introduce this quiz as a celebration. Pigs are extremely intelligent and it's hugely depressing that there are so many people in developed countries prepared to ignore this for the sake of the taste of a fatty, and sometimes hairy, meat. Hmmmmm.
+15
Level 53
Mar 31, 2021
I'm eating a strip of bacon as I read this comment.
+8
Level 56
Mar 31, 2021
hairy meat, wtf u talking about lol
+1
Level 68
Mar 31, 2021
Hairy? Did you try to bite the meat directly off the living pig? No wonder you don't like it! Anyway, I don't think anyone ignores that pigs are intelligent, social, and sometimes very cute animals - but so are horses, and aren't they delicious? There you go!
+1
Level 82
Mar 31, 2021
life feeds on life. but the only time I sampled horse meat it was from some Uzbek restaurant and not something I'd want to try again.
+1
Level 85
Jan 19, 2024
Smoked deli horse meat is delicious. Almost impossible to find in Canada and twice the price of other deli meats. An occasional treat.
+1
Level 82
Feb 11, 2024
The stuff I had reminded me a bit of a greasy hard salami, but wasn't very flavorful.
+2
Level 68
Apr 2, 2021
I can't vouch for that Uzbek restaurant, but, when prepared adequately, horse is indistinguishable from a good, lean cut of beef. I eat it from time to time, although it gets harder to find in France as well, which is a shame, since we have horses, and when you don't eventually eat them, the meat just goes to waste. On a personal note, I find pigs and lambs much cuter and more endearing than horses.
+1
Level 29
Apr 7, 2021
Hairy meat? Gotta be trolling.
+3
Level 46
Mar 31, 2021
I may of tried too hard not to name any muslim majority countries.
+1
Level 60
Jan 19, 2024
Same, I almost spelled out Indonesia before realizing there is no way
+7
Level 44
Mar 31, 2021
why on earth did I think Israel was a good guess
+1
Level 82
Mar 31, 2021
There was a punchline once on the Colbert Report concerning businesses that had not done adequate market research, and a made-up failed business in Israel, something like "Saturdays Only Pork-a-torium!"

I thought it was a funny line. Imagine my surprise when I got to Tel Aviv and drove past this place

+1
Level 60
Jan 19, 2024
Those imported low-wage workers have to eat too!
+1
Level 75
Mar 31, 2021
I somehow managed to be typing nearly the entire time and only score four, and none until the last minute when I got all the ones not in Europe. I guessed almost ten European countries too before giving up on it.
+2
Level 51
Apr 1, 2021
Look at the cute little piggy. Pork-eaters and the unethical factory farms that perpetuate this environmentally harmful diet are monsters.
+7
Level 82
Apr 1, 2021
then we are all monsters. going back to the first single-celled organism that absorbed another single-celled organism.
+7
Level 68
Apr 2, 2021
I'm all for eating less meat, and I did cut back a lot, for environmental reasons, and I totally respect people who choose for themselves not to eat meat. I also think there should be harsh laws against animal cruelty, including such barbaric practices as not stunning the animals before butchering them.

However, as kalba said, we can only survive on previous life. Unless you have somehow taught yourself how to photosynthesize, in which case, well done, pretty much the only things you consume that weren't alive at some point are water and salt. Good luck living on that. I suspect you're just here to flaunt your perceived moral superiority anyway.

+2
Level 79
Aug 24, 2023
How is the first half of your comment so kind and understanding and the second so rude and unfounded? OP didn't suggest we completely stop eating other living things (pork eaters are monsters is a bit ridiculous, though). They highlighted ethical and environmental problems with large-scale meat production, both of which are pretty substantial issues. Nothing like a comment section online to rile me up about poor listening/reading skills, yet here I am...
+3
Level 60
Nov 6, 2023
Calling unethical factory farms monsters is fair enough. Calling pork-eaters monsters without explanation is rude and unfounded. Unethical, perhaps, but monsters is extreme.
+1
Level 67
Apr 3, 2021
im muslim :/
+11
Level 68
Apr 5, 2021
Ok, thanks for the info. I'll update your file.
+2
Level 55
Apr 15, 2021
XD
+1
Level 77
Apr 3, 2021
Who is eating all the Danish Ham & Canadian Bacon?
+1
Level 93
Nov 7, 2023
poland?
+1
Level 30
Apr 5, 2021
Lol for some reason my first guess was Pakistan 😂 then I realized
+1
Level 71
Dec 21, 2021
I can't believe USA, Denmark and Thailand aren't on this list.
+1
Level 82
Feb 8, 2022
Americans and Thais both love their pork, but I feel like Americans eat a lot more beef and chicken, and Thais eat more chicken and seafood.
+1
Level 78
Feb 16, 2023
As an American, I will say that you run into a lot less pork than chicken and beef over here. I did try US as an answer, though.
+2
Level 78
Feb 16, 2023
How many bratwurst would the Pope have to eat to put the Vatican on this list?
+1
Level 75
Mar 31, 2023
6
+1
Level 59
Jan 21, 2024
35701 kg of pork for the entire city
+1
Level 63
Sep 29, 2023
Where's Saudi Arabia? Or perhaps Iran?
+1
Level 65
Nov 6, 2023
Well well well...
+1
Level 82
Feb 11, 2024
Saudis eat more chicken per capita than anyone else in the world. Pork in the country is illegal. Though I did smuggle some in from Bahrain, on occasion.
+1
Level 82
Oct 11, 2023
I'm surprised China's on here. I would think sheer number of people alone would keep them from getting on a per capita quiz
+1
Level 75
Nov 3, 2023
In Spain we have the saying "Del cerdo, hasta los andares", which would literally translate to something as "From the pork, even its gait". So that tells you quite everything.
+1
Level 90
Nov 6, 2023
Kal's back!
+2
Level ∞
Nov 6, 2023
No he's not. I updated this one.
+1
Level 79
Nov 7, 2023
What happened to kal??
+1
Level 72
Nov 8, 2023
As one of the newer Jetpunk users, I've always seen him around but never realised he was gone. What happened? Is he taking a break or something?
+2
Level 84
Nov 8, 2023
He left in a huff. From his JetPunk user page: The moderation of this site, always questionable, arbitrary, haphazard, and a bit hit-or-miss... has become s**t, and/or deliberately punitive.

It's unfortunate - I didn't always agree with him, but enjoyed reading his voluminous comments.

+2
Level 89
Nov 13, 2023
Yeah basically a lot of his comments were getting deleted and he was getting really annoyed with it so he left.
+2
Level 51
Jan 19, 2024
well, no wonder. Dude got too upset sometimes D:
+1
Level 81
Nov 6, 2023
Croatia
+1
Level 65
Jan 19, 2024
Croatia
+1
Level 57
Jan 19, 2024
I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia aren't going to be on this quiz.
+1
Level 40
Jan 19, 2024
Where's the majority muslim countries
+1
Level 89
Jan 19, 2024
Over here.
+1
Level 82
Feb 11, 2024
Actually here
+1
Level 57
Jan 20, 2024
quite surprising that the USA isn't here and no countries in south america