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Number of Vegans - United States
Based on various studies over the years, the estimated number of US consumers who considered themselves vegan was 4 million in 2014, 1 million in 2015, 3.7 million 2016, 19.6 million in 2017, 9.87 million 2018, and 5.08 million in 2019.
METHODOLOGY
To determine the number of consumers who considered themselves vegan in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, we began by searching for pre-compiled data on the number of vegans for the specified years. This search strategy yielded data estimates compiled by the Vegetarian Resource Group for 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019. For 2018 and 2019, we used data points provided by Gallup and Statista on the proportion of vegan consumers to calculate the number of vegans.
#1: 2014 and 2017
Research on trends in prepared foods indicates that 6% of US consumers in 2017 are vegan, as compared to 1% in 2014. According to The Vegan Society, there were 4 million vegans in 2014 and 19.6 million in 2017.
#2: 2015
According to the Vegetarian Resource Group, in 2015, there were 8 million adult vegetarians and 1 million vegans. According to the study, in 2015, about 3.4% of US adults aged 18 and over self-identified as vegetarians and 0.4% as vegans.
#3: 2016
According to the Vegetarian Resource Group, in 2016 there were 4.3 million vegetarians and approximately 3.7 million vegans. According to the study, in that year, about 3.3% of US adults aged 18 and over self-identified as vegetarians and 1.54% as vegans.
#3: 2018
According to a Gallup poll, as well as Statista, 5% of Americans are vegetarians, and 3% are vegan, in 2018. These are the same eating preferences reported in 2012. According to Gallup, 3% of younger eaters are vegan, 4% of persons aged 30-49 years are vegan, and only 2% of persons over 65 years are vegan.
Given that the US population, according to the US Census Bureau, for 2018 was 329.10 million, the number of vegans was 9.87 million (329.10 million * 3%).
#4: 2019
According to the Vegetarian Resource Group, as of March 2019, there were about 10 million vegetarians (4% of the 254 million US adult population) and about 5.08 million vegans in the US (2% of the 254 million US adult population).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- In 2018, about 4% of vegans had an annual income of less than $30,000 with 2% earning above $75,000 annually.
- An estimated 5% of vegans were liberals, 2% conservatives, and about 1% moderates.