How Much Beef Do Americans Eat? A Closer Look at U.S. Beef Consumption

Beef is as American as apple pie. From grilled burgers to slow-cooked brisket, beef is a staple of the American diet and culture. But how much beef does the average American actually consume? The numbers may surprise you.

A Meat-Loving Nation

The United States is one of the world’s top consumers of meat. According to the USDA, Americans ate over 200 pounds of red meat and poultry per person in 2020 That includes beef, pork, chicken, turkey and lamb Of that, beef accounts for a hefty 58.8 pounds per person.

To put that in perspective, the global average for beef consumption is less than half that amount at around 24 pounds per person. America’s appetite for beef is huge compared to most other countries.

Historical Beef Consumption

Beef consumption in the U.S. has fluctuated over the decades. It peaked in the 1970s, when the average American ate nearly 92 pounds of beef per year. The late 70s saw public health warnings about the risks of red meat, which led to a decline in beef eating in the 80s and 90s.

Consumption bottomed out in 2014 at 54 pounds per person. It has rebounded slightly since then, reaching just under 59 pounds in 2020. But current beef eating is still well below historical highs.

Leading the Pack

Among meats, beef still comes out on top in America. Chicken and pork consumption are roughly equal, with each American eating about 50-60 pounds per year. Americans eat far less lamb and veal, at around 1-2 pounds annually.

So beef remains the most popular meat for U.S. consumers. Burgers, steaks and roasts make up an outsized portion of the country’s meat intake.

Who’s Eating All That Beef?

The average American eats nearly 60 pounds of beef a year. But consumption is not evenly distributed across the population. Certain groups eat far more beef than others.

• Men eat about a third more beef than women, nearly 80 pounds vs 60 pounds annually.
• Middle-aged adults eat the most beef per capita, peaking at age 40-60.
• Beef consumption rises with income level. The wealthiest Americans eat around 70 pounds per year.
• Beef eating is more common in the Midwest and South compared to coastal regions.
• Hispanics eat slightly less beef than the national average, at around 50 pounds annually.

So while beef eating has declined overall, it remains high among certain demographics like middle-aged, wealthy men in the country’s interior. They make up the hardcore beef-loving population.

The Cost of Beef

As a premium meat, beef commands steep prices at the grocery store. Retail beef prices have risen dramatically over the past 25 years. The cost of ground beef has more than doubled since 1995, up 140%. Even adjusting for inflation, beef prices are up 50% in real terms.

Today ground beef costs $4.90 per pound on average. Steaks average $9.06 per pound for sirloin or $8.02 for T-bone. Brisket runs $3.60 per pound. And those prices are expected to keep rising with high beef demand.

Dollars and Cents

Americas spend big money on beef every year. The average person shells out over $340 annually on retail beef purchases. For a family of four, that can mean $1,360 per year just for beef.

In total, Americans spent $95 billion on beef consumption in 2020. That made beef the #1 meat category in consumer spending, ahead of pork at $63 billion and chicken at $48 billion.

Beef is expensive, but Americans clearly still think it’s worth the price tag. They allocate more grocery dollars to beef than any other meat.

The Environmental Impact

Of course, all that beef eating has environmental impacts as well. Beef production requires far more land, water and energy than chicken, pork or plant proteins.

The water footprint of beef is roughly 1800 gallons per pound. About 80% of Amazon deforestation is linked to beef grazing. And livestock including cattle produce around 15% of the world’s greenhouse gasses.

As concerns about environmental sustainability grow, some consumers are cutting back on beef for ecological reasons. But beef still dominates plates across America.

The Beef Industry

Massive beef consumption sustains a huge U.S. beef industry as well. The sector employs over 450,000 people and generates over $67 billion in sales annually.

The beef supply chain includes ranchers, feedlots, processors, distributors, grocers and restaurants. Cattle ranching alone occupies over 550 million acres in the U.S.

Top beef producing states are Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, California and Oklahoma. Leading processors are Cargill, Tyson Foods, National Beef and JBS. The industry churns out over 25 billion pounds of beef each year.

The Future of Beef

By all accounts, beef will remain key to the American diet for years to come. USDA projects that each person will eat around 61 pounds of beef in 2030, slightly up from today.

However, beef may face challenges in the future. A rising vegetarian movement views beef as harmful to health, environment and animal welfare. Younger generations are warming to meat alternatives.

And lab-grown beef may shake up the market, though its high costs may limit adoption. For now, beef remains as beloved as ever, if not more.

The Bottom Line

At close to 60 pounds per person, U.S. beef consumption is among the highest globally. Americans spend over $300 per capita on beef annually, making it the #1 meat in consumer dollars.

Beef eating is ingrained in American food culture, especially among men. But its toll on health and the environment may promote moderation. For most Americans, beef remains the king of meats.