Animal protein consumption in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Animal protein consumption was 3.7 grams of protein per day per capita in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
3.7 grams of protein per day per capita
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
106th
of 192 countries
All-time high
4.15 grams of protein per day per capita
in 1983
All-time low
1.7 grams of protein per day per capita
in 1965
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Animal protein consumption in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in grams of protein per day per capita.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 3.7 grams of protein per day per capita for animal protein consumption in 2023.
That represents a change of down 3.4% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, animal protein consumption in Saudi Arabia peaked at 4.15 grams of protein per day per capita in 1983 and was at its lowest, 1.7 grams of protein per day per capita, in 1965.
Saudi Arabia ranks 106th of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Animal protein consumption in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | grams of protein per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.98 grams of protein per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 1.91 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.7% |
| 1963 | 2.02 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.8% |
| 1964 | 1.7 grams of protein per day per capita | -15.7% |
| 1965 | 1.7 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 1.84 grams of protein per day per capita | +8.5% |
| 1967 | 1.88 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 1.73 grams of protein per day per capita | -8.1% |
| 1969 | 1.73 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 1.86 grams of protein per day per capita | +7.5% |
| 1971 | 1.74 grams of protein per day per capita | -6.2% |
| 1972 | 1.88 grams of protein per day per capita | +8.2% |
| 1973 | 2.38 grams of protein per day per capita | +26.5% |
| 1974 | 2.07 grams of protein per day per capita | -13.0% |
| 1975 | 1.99 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.9% |
| 1976 | 2.24 grams of protein per day per capita | +12.3% |
| 1977 | 2.77 grams of protein per day per capita | +23.9% |
| 1978 | 2.79 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 3.34 grams of protein per day per capita | +19.9% |
| 1980 | 3.68 grams of protein per day per capita | +10.0% |
| 1981 | 3.8 grams of protein per day per capita | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 4.11 grams of protein per day per capita | +8.0% |
| 1983 | 4.15 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 3.81 grams of protein per day per capita | -8.1% |
| 1985 | 3.92 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 3.24 grams of protein per day per capita | -17.4% |
| 1987 | 3.2 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 3 grams of protein per day per capita | -6.3% |
| 1989 | 3.09 grams of protein per day per capita | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 2.41 grams of protein per day per capita | -22.2% |
| 1991 | 2.52 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 1.95 grams of protein per day per capita | -22.6% |
| 1993 | 1.92 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 2.06 grams of protein per day per capita | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 2.38 grams of protein per day per capita | +15.6% |
| 1996 | 2.25 grams of protein per day per capita | -5.3% |
| 1997 | 2.29 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 2.47 grams of protein per day per capita | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 2.42 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 2.34 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 2.67 grams of protein per day per capita | +14.2% |
| 2002 | 2.5 grams of protein per day per capita | -6.5% |
| 2003 | 2.37 grams of protein per day per capita | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 2.8 grams of protein per day per capita | +18.0% |
| 2005 | 2.95 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 3.23 grams of protein per day per capita | +9.3% |
| 2007 | 3.21 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 2.6 grams of protein per day per capita | -18.9% |
| 2009 | 2.5 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 3.47 grams of protein per day per capita | +38.8% |
| 2011 | 3.29 grams of protein per day per capita | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 3.73 grams of protein per day per capita | +13.4% |
| 2013 | 3.67 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 3.64 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 3.43 grams of protein per day per capita | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 3.53 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 3.33 grams of protein per day per capita | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 3.11 grams of protein per day per capita | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 3.79 grams of protein per day per capita | +21.9% |
| 2020 | 3.98 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 3.93 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 3.83 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 3.7 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 3.7 grams of protein per day per capita is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.15 grams of protein per day per capita, 60% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 3.7 grams of protein per day per capita is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.66 grams of protein per day per capita, 1.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.83 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.7 grams of protein per day per capita | 2.02 grams of protein per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.31 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.74 grams of protein per day per capita | 3.34 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.6 grams of protein per day per capita | 3 grams of protein per day per capita | 4.15 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.27 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.92 grams of protein per day per capita | 2.52 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.72 grams of protein per day per capita | 2.34 grams of protein per day per capita | 3.23 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5 grams of protein per day per capita | 3.11 grams of protein per day per capita | 3.79 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.86 grams of protein per day per capita | 3.7 grams of protein per day per capita | 3.98 grams of protein per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 103 Mozambique 3.78 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 104 Poland 3.75 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 105 Kuwait 3.74 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 107 Austria 3.65 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 108 Libya 3.61 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 109 Belize 3.58 grams of protein per day per capita compare
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0212 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 731.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 32.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 52.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0256 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 882.47 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is animal protein consumption in Saudi Arabia?
- Animal protein consumption in Saudi Arabia was 3.7 grams of protein per day per capita in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest animal protein consumption recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.15 grams of protein per day per capita in 1983.
- What is the lowest animal protein consumption recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7 grams of protein per day per capita in 1965.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for animal protein consumption?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 106th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is animal protein consumption rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Animal protein consumption. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Quantity that is available for consumption at the end of the supply chain. It does not account for consumer waste, so the quantity that is actually consumed may be lower.