Lamb Consumption by Country 2024

Lamb is an ancient dish and is considered a delicacy in most countries. Its taste is described as agamy, earthy, and even pastoral. The distinct flavor primarily comes from a higher fat content – specifically, branched-chain fatty acids in the meat. Lamb is also grass-fed, which contributes to the earthy taste.

Lamb and mutton are consumed throughout the world. Lamb is meat from a younger sheep, usually one year and under. Mutton is meat from a more mature sheep - two to three years old.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, sheep account for roughly 5% of the world's meat consumption. Sheep meat is prominent in Mediterranean cultures, including Turkey, Greece, and Croatia. Middle Eastern countries, such as Jordan, Iran, and Afghanistan, consume lamb daily. Some dishes in North Africa also feature lamb. Central American and Asian dishes include it as a mainstay. And to Australians, roasted leg of lamb is the 'national dish.' Lamb is less popular in the United States. American settlers initially chose beef over sheep, leaving this type of meat to become less common than others.

The top lamb consumers by country, according to the OECD Annual Sheep Meat Consumption List, per person, include Greece at 12.3 kg, Kazakhstan at 8.75 kg, and Australia at 5.81 kg. In the Middle East, Turkey consumes 4.16 kg, and Saudi Arabia is at 4.12 kg, per person.

An average Israeli eats as little as 1.59 kg of lamb annually. However, this was not always the case. Roast lamb was a staple at Passover until A.D. 70 when forces destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. In memory of this, Jews prohibited all roasted lamb. However, Hebrew traditions allow for other forms of preparation.

According to the statistics released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Mongolians consume an astounding 66 kg per person annually. This insatiable appetite for lamb and mutton stems from a long-standing pastoral tradition. In comparison, Americans consume only .6 kg per person yearly.