HOW MANY ADULT VEGANS ARE IN THE U.S.? HOW OFTEN DO AMERICANS EAT VEGETARIAN MEALS?
The Vegetarian Useful resource Group asks in a 2026 Nationwide Survey Performed by The Harris Ballot.
By Reed Mangels PhD RD, Charles Stahler, and Debra Wasserman
Meals corporations, entrepreneurs, researchers, college students, and media for years have been asking The Vegetarian Useful resource Group in regards to the variety of vegetarians and vegans. To assist reply this query, VRG commissioned The Harris Ballot to conduct a nationally consultant on-line ballot of two,096 U.S. adults aged 18 and over. We requested:
Which one, if any, of the next greatest describes your consuming conduct? Please choose the choice that greatest applies.
1) I by no means eat meat, fish, seafood, poultry, dairy, or eggs
2) I by no means eat meat, fish, seafood, or poultry
3) I typically eat meals with out meat, fish, seafood, poultry, dairy, or eggs
4) I typically eat meals with out meat, fish, seafood, or poultry
5) I normally eat meals with out meat, fish, seafood, poultry, dairy, or eggs
6) I normally eat meals with out meat, fish, seafood, or poultry
7) None of those
We thought of those that by no means eat meat, fish, seafood or poultry; plus those that by no means eat meat, fish, seafood, poultry, dairy, or eggs, as vegetarian. We categorised that second class of vegetarians who don’t eat dairy or eggs additionally as vegan. As a result of we use the phrase “by no means” and don’t simply ask if an individual considers him/herself vegetarian or vegan, our numbers could also be decrease than these reported in different polls.
Sixty-seven % of adults in the USA all the time, typically, or normally eat vegetarian meals (together with vegan), whereas 33% presumably by no means have vegetarian meals or vegan meals. Thirty-three % of adults all the time, typically, or normally eat vegan meals. 5 % are vegetarians, with over half (3%) additionally being vegan.
This has robust implications for meals corporations, meals companies, and eating places, who must cater to totally different audiences.
HOW MANY AMERICAN ADULTS EAT VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN MEALS?
5% Vegetarians Together with Vegans
2% Vegetarians who aren’t Vegans (by no means eat meat, fish, seafood, poultry)
3% Vegans (By no means eat meat, fish, seafood, poultry, dairy, eggs)
8% Often eat vegetarian meals (not together with vegan)
10% Often eat vegan meals
13% At all times or normally eat vegan meals
10% At all times or normally eat vegetarian meals (not together with vegan)
23% At all times or normally eat vegetarian meals (together with vegan)
23% Typically eat vegetarian meals (not together with vegan)
21% Typically eat vegan meals
33% At all times, Typically, or Often eat vegan meals.
67% At all times, Typically, or Often eat vegetarian meals (together with vegan meals)
33% Presumably by no means eat vegetarian or vegan meals
PEOPLE WHO NEVER EAT MEAT, FISH, SEAFOOD, OR POULTRY (Complete share of vegetarians, together with vegans, of U.S, grownup inhabitants)
5% Complete
5% male
5% feminine
7% Ages 18-34 – considerably larger than these ages 65 plus (2%)
5% Ages 35-44
6% Ages 45-54 – considerably larger than these ages 65 plus (2%)
4% Ages 55-64
2% Ages 65 plus – considerably decrease than these ages 18-34 (7%) and ages 45-54 (6%) 6% Northeast*
5% Midwest
5% South
3% West
5% Hispanic – no vital distinction in comparison with White or Black
8% Black (non-Hispanic) – considerably larger than White non-Hispanic (4%)
4% White (non-Hispanic) – considerably decrease than Black non-Hispanic (8%)
6% Lower than $50,000 annual family revenue
4% $50,000 – $74,999 annual family revenue
4% $75,000 – $99,999 annual family revenue
5% $100,000 or extra annual family revenue.
4% Home-owner – considerably decrease than renters (7%)
7% Renter – considerably larger than owners (4%)
4% Married
6% Not Married
6% City
5% Suburban
3% Rural
The demographics for these extra prone to be vegetarian embody adults ages 18-34 (7%) and 45-54 (6%) in comparison with older adults ages 65 plus (2%), in addition to renters (7%) vs. owners (4%).Black (non-Hispanic) adults are twice as possible as White (non-Hispanic) adults to be vegetarian (8% vs. 4%).
PEOPLE WHO NEVER EAT MEAT, FISH, SEAFOOD, POULTRY, DAIRY, OR EGGS
(Complete Variety of vegans as share of U.S, grownup inhabitants)
3% Complete
3% male
3% feminine
4% Ages 18-34
2% Ages 35-44
4% Ages 45-54
1% Ages 55-64
1% Ages 65 plus
4% Northeast*
3% Midwest
2% South
2% West
1% Hispanic – considerably decrease than Black (non-Hispanic) (6%)
6% Black (non-Hispanic) – considerably larger than each Hispanic (1%) and White (non-Hispanic (2%)
2% White (non-Hispanic) – considerably decrease than Black (non-Hispanic) (6%)
3% Lower than $50,000 annual family revenue
2% $50,000 – $74,999 annual family revenue
1% $75,000 – $99,999 annual family revenue
3% $100,000 or extra annual family revenue.
2% Home-owner – considerably decrease than renters (4%)
4% Renter – considerably larger than owners (2%)
2% Married
3% Not Married
3% City
2% Suburban
2% Rural
The demographics of these extra prone to be vegan embody Black (non-Hispanic) adults who’re considerably extra possible than each Hispanic (1%) or White (non-Hispanic) adults (2%) and renters who’re twice as possible as owners (4% vs. 2%).
PEOPLE WHO ALWAYS, SOMETIMES, OR USUALLY DO NOT EAT MEAT, FISH, SEAFOOD, POULTRY, DAIRY, OR EGGS
(Complete Variety of vegans plus individuals normally and typically consuming vegan meals, as share of U.S, grownup inhabitants).
This may seem like the principle marketplace for corporations advertising vegan objects, although there could be crossover from different teams. For instance, people or households selecting plant milks due to lactose intolerance, could also be consuming different animal merchandise. Anecdotally, it’s possible you’ll observe this on the grocery store checkout line.
33% Complete
32% male
33% feminine
38% Ages 18-34 – considerably larger than these ages 55-64 (28%) and 65 plus (29%).
34% Ages 35-44
34% Ages 45-54
28% Ages 55-64 – considerably decrease than these ages 18-34 (38%)
29% Ages 65 plus – considerably decrease than these ages 18-34 (38%)
38% Northeast*
31% Midwest
33% South
31% West
29% Hispanic
37% Black (non-Hispanic)
33% White (non-Hispanic)
31% Lower than $50,000 annual family revenue
31% $50,000 – $74,999 annual family revenue
31% $75,000 – $99,999 annual family revenue
34% $100,000 or extra annual family revenue.
32% Home-owner
37% Renter
35% Married
32% Not Married
35% City – considerably larger than rural (28%)
34% Suburban
28% Rural – considerably decrease than city (35%)
The demographics extra prone to be consuming vegan meals are 18- to 34-year-olds in comparison with these ages 55 plus (38% vs. 28% ages 55-64 and 29% ages 65 plus), and people dwelling in city areas in comparison with those that reside in rural areas (35% vs. 28%). Although there isn’t as a lot distinction between all teams as individuals may count on. So all of them appear to be potential markets, relying in your product, and advertising technique. Value of the product might have totally different influences for numerous classes. For instance, an costly meat analog or restaurant meal could also be reasonably priced for one group, however not one other. A big bundle of meals could also be appropriate for one household unit, however not a smaller household or single particular person. Thus, some people consuming vegan meals could also be on the lookout for meat analogs, whereas others could also be in search of cheap and fewer processed beans.
* The Northeast Consists of CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT. The Midwest consists of IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, and WI. The South consists of AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WV. The West consists of AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WY, and WA.
With U.S. adults 18 and over numbering about 267 million**, we will estimate the variety of vegetarians within the U.S. grownup inhabitants, (5%) based mostly on this ballot, to be roughly 13 million adults. Vegans included within the vegetarian determine (3% can be round eight million adults.
SURVEY METHOD: This survey was performed on-line inside the USA by The Harris Ballot on behalf of The Vegetarian Useful resource Group from January 6-8, 2026, amongst 2,096 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris on-line polls is measured utilizing a Bayesian credible interval. For this examine, the pattern knowledge is correct to plus or minus 2.5 share factors utilizing a 95% confidence degree. For extra data, contact The Vegetarian Useful resource Group at [email protected] or (410) 366.-8343.
To see different vegan and vegetarian polls, go to https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/faq.htm#ballot For extra data on veganism, vegan recipes, elements, vegan faculty scholarships, and vegetarian eating places within the U.S. and Canada, see www.vrg.org
