Vegan Statistics and Facts – An overview

The vegan lifestyle, which involves abstaining from animal products, is becoming increasingly popular as a way to promote sustainability and animal welfare. Here are some important vegan-related statistics to consider, with sources included:

Environmental Statistics

• The production of animal-based foods has a larger environmental impact than plant-based alternatives. For example, the production of beef has a significantly larger carbon footprint than plant-based proteins such as beans and lentils.
• Animal agriculture is also a major contributor to deforestation and land degradation, as forests are often cleared to create pastureland or to grow feed. Adopting a vegan diet can help reduce demand for these products and minimize their negative impact on the environment.
• The water footprint of animal-based foods is also generally larger compared to plant-based alternatives. For example, it takes about 15,000 liters of water to produce one kg of beef, while it only takes 287 liters of water to produce one kilogram of potatoes.

Animal Welfare Statistics

• Approximately 80 billion animals are slaughtered every year. And many of these animals are subjected to crowded and confined conditions, lack of access to the outdoors, and other forms of abuse. Adopting a vegan diet can help reduce demand for animal-based products and improve the conditions in which these animals are raised.
• Animal agriculture is also a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change and have a negative impact on the environment and animal populations. A vegan diet can help reduce these emissions and mitigate their negative effects.

Health Statistics

• A well-planned vegan diet can provide all the necessary nutrients and can be suitable for almost all people of all ages. If you are pregnant, always ask for medical advice.
• Some studies have shown that a vegan diet may be associated with lower risks of certain chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
• It is important to ensure that a vegan diet is balanced and varied, and to include sources of essential nutrients such as protein, iron, calcium, and vitamin B12.

Overall, these statistics show that the vegan lifestyle has the potential to have a positive impact on the environment, animal welfare, and human health. Those interested in adopting a more sustainable and compassionate diet may want to consider the benefits of a vegan lifestyle.

Used sources

worldwildlife.org, Our World in Data, Nature.com, Our World in Data, EPA.gov and Rush.edu.