Share of vegans in the U.S. 2022, by age group

During a survey carried out between July 2021 and June 2022, approximately seven percent of people in the U.S. aged between 18 and 19 said they were following a vegan diet. The share of vegans among respondents aged between 40 and 49 was at four percent.

Veganism in the U.S.

Consumers who follow a vegan diet do not eat or drink any products derived either wholly or partly from animals. Many people have a positive perception on the ethics of veganism; nearly 30 percent of a surveyed population in the U.S. thinks it is more ethical to be vegan. Besides moral concerns, there are many other reasons for only consuming vegan products. The leading reason for becoming vegan or pursuing a non-meat diet is to have a healthier diet and/or lose weight. Concerns about animal welfare also rank very high.

Meat-substitute products in the United States

Nowadays, grocery stores in the U.S. offer a variety of meat-substitute products. Traditional veggie burgers (e.g. black bean) and beef-style alternative burgers (e.g. Beyond Burger, Impossible Burger) are the most frequently purchased types of plant-based meats by U.S. consumers. The main reasons for eating meat-substitutes are that consumers consider them healthier than meat products or think that they benefit the environment. Nearly 30 percent of surveyed consumers in the U.S. are consuming meat-substitute products once a month or more often.