How Many Vegans Are There in the World?

Global estimates put vegans at roughly 2 to 8 percent of the population, depending on the country and how surveys define the term. In the United States, the vegan share grew from about 0.5 percent in 2016 to somewhere between 6 and 8 percent more recently. Figures vary widely because there is no single agreed definition of veganism.

Veganism refers to abstaining from animal products in diet and in other areas of life, such as clothing. Vegans reject the use of animals for food, clothing or other purposes. Some vegans restrict only what they eat, while others also avoid animal-derived materials like leather and wool.

Worldwide vegans

Everyone in the world has a different approach regarding vegans, as many people intermix the terms vegan, plant-based, and vegetarians. So it is a challenging task for the researchers to calculate the number of vegans in the world. Keep in mind that there is a massive difference between vegan and plant-based diets for vegetarians.

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However, the some countries in the world have a 2-8% vegan population who are true vegans. So we can assume the worldwide vegan population to lower ratios.

South Africa has a most significant surge in a vegan diet, but most of the population is not vegan. According to a survey, 99.99% of South Africans are not vegan. Moreover, there is a 1.2 billion population in Africa and 7.53 billion worldwide populations. So it makes the findings easy for worldwide vegan calculation. So by current stats around 8% of worldwide population is vegan.

Vegans in the US

The US has a small amount of vegan population initially, but this ratio increases drastically in the last few decades. According to the survey of 2016, there were only 0.5% vegans. Now recent research shows that the amount of vegans has reached about 6%.

Keep in mind that there is a 327 million population in the USA, so there are about 19,632,000 vegans in the US. Here comes the fact that this measurement can be flawed as every person has a different approach toward a vegan lifestyle.

According to the research of 2021, there is an increase in vegan peoples, leading to 8% of the US population. This percentage of vegan people has increased in the past decade, representing vegans only instead of vegetarians. It means that many people directly move towards the vegan lifestyle instead of the vegetarian diet.

So these worldwide and US vegan figures show a growing trend of the vegan lifestyle as the population grows. People start shifting from meat products or animal foods to vegetables for living a healthy and better life.

Tips for those who want to become vegan

The pandemic made people rethink habits and seek a healthier life. According to a UK-based Mintel report, 25% of Generation Y youth said the vegan diet became more attractive during the pandemic. However, replacing an omnivorous diet with a vegan one can be quite a change. Because of this, it is recommended that the transition be done carefully and, preferably, under the supervision of a professional. First of all, dietary re-education is needed to adapt the body to change.

To help people interested in changing their lifestyle, we will answer some of the most common questions presented by beginners in vegan eating. Check it out below:

1 - Does attending or ordering delivery at vegan restaurants help in the process?

Yes, because it encourages familiarization with other textures and tastes. In addition to getting in touch with a different range of dishes, ordering delivery from a vegan restaurant can encourage you to learn how to cook new tasty and practical combinations.

2 - When starting, do I eliminate the animal protein at once or little by little?

According to the professional, the decision varies according to each person’s lifestyle. Those who are in good health and have healthy eating habits can get rid of the meat at once. Those who have an outdated diet, who lack some nutrients, are recommended to replace animal protein gradually.

3 - Is it necessary to take a vitamin supplement?

Some vitamins are only present in meat, offal, and eggs, such as those in the B complex. Therefore, it is necessary to replace these vitamins in some way, either with substitutions or through the consumption of supplements. Another point that can be decisive for the adoption of a supplement is the stage of life in which the vegan depends on the age group. Metabolism needs different vitamins to maintain its proper functioning. A pregnant vegan woman and an elderly vegan have different nutritional needs. Because of these specifications, it is recommended to schedule an appointment with a nutritionist.

4 - Is nutritional monitoring necessary?

It is important because the follow-up of a professional will guarantee the person the elaboration of a personalised food plan and with an indication of all the necessary nutrients for the body. Without proper monitoring and adaptation, beginners on the vegan diet run the risk of developing diseases due to lack or excess of nutrients. Vitamin B9 deficiency, for example, can lead to depression and psychiatric illnesses.

5 - What foods can I not eat?

A vegan diet cannot exclude vegetable protein, which can be found in legumes and vegetables. In addition, the nutritionists emphasise the importance of including soy in the diet, which has all the nutrients present in animal protein. The professionals indicate the consumption of organic soy, which does not involve pesticides.

To learn more about the vegan diet, consult a nutritionist.

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