Annual growth of vegetarianism?

Vegetarianism - growth statistics

• I need statistics to show that Vegetarianism is growing, both in the East and the West. I've already found these, but they are out of date. I need something which accounts for the rise of global / regional / country population growth of vegetarians since 2000 in particular. http://www.vnv.org.au/Statistics.htm http://www.vegsoc.org/info/statveg.html

• Answer:

  Hello goldenavatar, Thank you for your very interesting question. I am particularly interested in it because I am a vegetarian, I think it's the healthiest and most ethical decision a person can ever make in their lifetime, and I certainly hope that vegetarianism is rising. According to a Zogby poll of Americans conducted in 2000, at that time there were 4.7 million vegetarians and 1.7 million vegans. This amounts to 2.5% of adults being vegetarian and .9% being vegan. A 2006 estimate put the number of vegetarians in the UK at 5.6 percent of the whole population, or 3.5 million vegetarians and .25 million vegans. NutraIngredients "New labelling guidance taps growing vegetarian demand" http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=66930-fsa-vegan-vegetarian "Overall vegetarianism has followed a steady upwards curve over the past decade. A 2002 Datamonitor report estimated that there are around 12 million vegetarians across Europe." A 2000 poll found that 2.5 percent of the US population were vegetarians, and PETA maintains that that has grown to 4% since then, with 19,000 people making the healthy choice to become a vegetarian each week. Five to nine percent of US adults are "almost vegetarians" who choose to eat little meat or only fish. 20-25% of the population are "vegetarian-inclined", eating four or more vegetarian meals per week. "Vegetarianism: Eating for Life" http://www.downbound.com/Vegetarianism_s/470.htm "There's little doubt anymore that vegetarianism is going mainstream. In the United States alone, more than 12 million people are vegetarians, and 19,000 more make the switch to a meat-free diet every week." "AR-News: Reasons for optimism" http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/Week-of-Mon-20031117/011012.html "A Zogby poll on vegetarian issues and concern for animals indicates that a majority of Americans in all ethnic groups sometimes, often, or always eat vegetarian at home." There have been a number of health scares relating to eating meat in recent years-- mad cow disease in the UK, which possibly accounts for the large number of vegetarians in the Queen's country. There is also the looming threat of avian flu in the rest of the world-- the flu is caused by the terrible conditions in which chickens are raised without concern for hygiene. Sources: Vegetarian Resource Group http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/market.htm "So You're an Environmentalist; Why Are You Still Eating Meat?" http://www.alternet.org/story/12162 Search terms: vegetarianism growth 2000 12 million vegetarians 25 million americans vegetarians If you need any additional clarification, let me know and I'll be glad to assist you. --keystroke-ga