Animal protein consumption in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Animal protein consumption was 5 grams of protein per day per capita in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
5 grams of protein per day per capita
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
85th
of 192 countries
All-time high
5.82 grams of protein per day per capita
in 2013
All-time low
3.52 grams of protein per day per capita
in 1980
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Animal protein consumption in United Kingdom, 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
The most recent figure for animal protein consumption in United Kingdom is 5 grams of protein per day per capita, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, animal protein consumption in United Kingdom peaked at 5.82 grams of protein per day per capita in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3.52 grams of protein per day per capita, in 1980.
That places United Kingdom 85th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | grams of protein per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.86 grams of protein per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 5.18 grams of protein per day per capita | +6.8% |
| 1963 | 5.01 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.3% |
| 1964 | 5.64 grams of protein per day per capita | +12.4% |
| 1965 | 5.64 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1966 | 5.08 grams of protein per day per capita | -9.8% |
| 1967 | 5.23 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 5.51 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.4% |
| 1969 | 5.27 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.5% |
| 1970 | 5.22 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 1971 | 5.04 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.5% |
| 1972 | 4.88 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.3% |
| 1973 | 4.81 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 4.44 grams of protein per day per capita | -7.6% |
| 1975 | 4.26 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.2% |
| 1976 | 4.35 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 4.22 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 3.87 grams of protein per day per capita | -8.3% |
| 1979 | 3.75 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.2% |
| 1980 | 3.52 grams of protein per day per capita | -6.0% |
| 1981 | 4.11 grams of protein per day per capita | +16.5% |
| 1982 | 4.19 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 4.06 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.1% |
| 1984 | 4.29 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 4.5 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 4.32 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.1% |
| 1987 | 4.43 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 4.64 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 4.88 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 4.71 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 4.63 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 4.65 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 4.64 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 4.83 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 4.81 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 4.91 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 5.17 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 4.83 grams of protein per day per capita | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 5 grams of protein per day per capita | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 5.09 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 5.39 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 5.27 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 5.05 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 5.35 grams of protein per day per capita | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 5.31 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 5.81 grams of protein per day per capita | +9.4% |
| 2007 | 5.72 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 5.6 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 5.26 grams of protein per day per capita | -6.0% |
| 2010 | 5.55 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 5.66 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 5.79 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 5.82 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 5.41 grams of protein per day per capita | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 5.29 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 5.64 grams of protein per day per capita | +6.6% |
| 2017 | 5.41 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 5.03 grams of protein per day per capita | -7.0% |
| 2019 | 5.12 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 5.1 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 5.08 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 5.04 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 5 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 5 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, 81% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 5 grams of protein per day per capita is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.81 grams of protein per day per capita, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.27 grams of protein per day per capita | 4.86 grams of protein per day per capita | 5.64 grams of protein per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.48 grams of protein per day per capita | 3.75 grams of protein per day per capita | 5.22 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.29 grams of protein per day per capita | 3.52 grams of protein per day per capita | 4.88 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.82 grams of protein per day per capita | 4.63 grams of protein per day per capita | 5.17 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.39 grams of protein per day per capita | 5.05 grams of protein per day per capita | 5.81 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.47 grams of protein per day per capita | 5.03 grams of protein per day per capita | 5.82 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.05 grams of protein per day per capita | 5 grams of protein per day per capita | 5.1 grams of protein per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 82 Netherlands 5.16 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 83 Bahrain 5.13 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 84 Ireland 5 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 86 Canada 4.97 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 87 Trinidad and Tobago 4.91 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 88 Suriname 4.83 grams of protein per day per capita compare
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 21.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0099 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 571.28 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0072 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 417.14 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is animal protein consumption in United Kingdom?
- Animal protein consumption in United Kingdom was 5 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 5.82 grams of protein per day per capita in 2013.
- What is the lowest animal protein consumption recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.52 grams of protein per day per capita in 1980.
- How does United Kingdom rank for animal protein consumption?
- United Kingdom ranks 85th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is animal protein consumption rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.