Butter Consumption by Country 2024

Although many different types of fats and oils can be found in diets around the world, butter is definitely up there among the most ubiquitous. Its richness and distinctive flavor make it a popular way to add depth and flavor to many dishes worldwide.

However, actual butter consumption per capita can vary quite a bit from one country to the next. Here’s a closer look at which countries consume the most and least, as well as an overview of common factors that may affect consumption.

Butter Consumption from Region to Region

New Zealand leads the global pack by quite a bit with a consumption rate of around 3.9 kg per capita, and those numbers have remained fairly consistent throughout recent years. Reasons include the fact that New Zealand is one of the world’s leaders in both production and exportation of butter, making it a huge part of the country’s culture.

Other countries where butter consumption is higher include nations like Belarus, India, France, Denmark, and Iceland – all regions where butter is fairly common in popular cultural dishes and cuisines.

Areas where people consume less butter per capita include many parts of Africa and Asia, likely because alternative fats like ghee and various vegetable oils are more popular and commonly used.

Economic Considerations

In many parts of the world, populations view butter as something of a luxury ingredient. That said, the higher the average income in a country, the more likely people are to not only consume butter in the first place but consume more of it. For this reason, butter consumption per capita tends to run high in multiple countries across Europe and North America.

However, people from poorer countries are less likely to have access to butter in the first place, as well as less likely to consume it often.

Cultural Factors and Preferences

As with many food items – especially extras like butter – average consumption has much to do with the culture and whether the local cuisine includes it as a rule. For example, French, Swiss, Russian, and Polish dishes are famous for the way they routinely include plenty of butter.

Conversely, cuisines from countries like Japan, China, and multiple nations across Africa either contain little fat of any kind or typically leverage alternative fats to butter.

Looking at the worldwide consumption per capita of an edible good like butter can shed a lot of light on ongoing economic, cultural, and access trends. There may also be connections to health and dietary concerns depending on how much is consumed.