United Kingdom
Compared to all the countries in the world, the UK has the most vegans. Recent statistics show that the popularity of veganism is growing in the UK. Searches for vegan restaurants with dedicated vegan menus have tripled in the past four years. In 2017 there were 60,000 searches for vegan restaurants, while in 2020, there were over 200,000. Plenty of advertisements and famous media personalities push the many benefits of veganism in the UK, adding to its popularity.
Australia
The country with the second-most vegans is Australia. Similar to the UK, Australia has seen a surge in searches for vegan restaurants, most notably in the last four years. Many driving forces surrounding veganism’s popularity are connected to climate change and the harmful impacts humans have on the earth with harmful agricultural practices. The pandemic has also led to an increase in veganism in Australia.
Israel
Nearly 5% of all Israel citizens identify as vegan and will only eat vegan food. Veganism coincides nicely with the popular Mediterranean foods and the ongoing kosher rules, making vegan restaurants easy to find. It is also easy to find the ingredients needed to produce a vegan-friendly meal locally, adding to veganism’s eco-friendly and sustainable aspect.
New Zealand
Like its Australian neighbor, New Zealand has plenty of vegans. In a recent survey conducted in 2019, nearly 15% of the population admitted to eating a meat-free diet. Current Google trends and data also support this claim. In 2020, the number of searches focused on vegan cheese, recipes, and restaurants was up over 50% compared to just one year prior.
Switzerland
Switzerland is the first European country to make our list for having the most vegans. In this country, a recent survey found that nearly ⅓ of all Swiss people were actively attempting to reduce their meat consumption. While this doesn’t truly align with veganism, it is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.
Austria and Germany
These countries are tied when it comes to the total amount of vegans living in the country. Veganism in Germany and Austria is at a record high. Germany already had a leading amount of vegetarians, but many of these citizens have started to transform to veganism. Germany is the top producer of plant-based vegan meats, making vegan menu options available throughout the country.
Sweden
Sweden is very health-conscientious, so veganism works perfectly well within their cultural constructs. There are even all-vegan schools in Sweden. Many vegan food innovations, like vegan Bolognese and veggie schnitzel, have originated in Sweden.