Beef is a popular food in the American diet, but how much beef do Americans actually consume? Understanding beef consumption statistics provides insight into American eating habits and the beef industry. In this article, we’ll look at the key data on how much beef is consumed in the US each year and how consumption has changed over time.
Total US Beef Consumption
According to the USDA, total beef consumption in the US reached 30 billion pounds in 2021. This was an increase of 8.7% compared to 2020 and the highest level of beef consumption on record in the available USDA data from 2002-2023.
Beef consumption had previously peaked at 28.1 billion pounds in both 2007 and 2016 before declining and then rising again to the new high in 2021. Overall, total beef consumption has been on an upward trajectory over the past two decades, with periodic declines during economic recessions.
Per Capita Beef Consumption
Looking at total beef consumption doesn’t account for population growth. To understand individual consumption patterns, we have to examine per capita beef consumption.
In 2021, per capita beef consumption in the US was 88.4 pounds per person. This was up from 83.9 pounds in 2020. Over the 2002-2023 period, per capita beef consumption peaked at 94.3 pounds in 2004.
The lowest point was in 2014 at 74.3 pounds per person. Since 2014, per capita consumption has rebounded as beef production increased and the economy strengthened. Still, long-term data show a gradual decline in per capita beef consumption when viewed over the past 40 years.
Top Sources of Beef Consumption
Where does all this beef that Americans consume come from? According to USDA data, the top sources of beef in the U.S. diet are:
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Ground beef – hamburgers, meatballs, etc This accounted for 30% of total beef consumption.
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Steaks – cuts like sirloin, ribeye. These made up 20% of consumption.
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Roasts – brisket, chuck, rump, etc. Provided 13% of total beef intake.
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Beef used in processed, prepared, and mixed dishes was also a major component. This included tacos, burritos, spaghetti with meat sauce, etc.
So while steaks may be considered the quintessential beef eating experience, ground beef in the form of burgers and other dishes accounts for the largest share of beef Americans consume.
Who Eats the Most Beef?
Beef consumption patterns in the US are not evenly distributed across the population. Research has shown that a small segment of beef lovers consumes far more than average.
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12% of Americans consume around half of all beef eaten in a day.
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Men eat nearly 60% more beef than women.
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Americans aged 50-65 eat the most beef per capita.
So middle-aged men tend to be the biggest beef eaters, skewing the national per capita statistics upward compared to other demographic groups.
Beef Consumption Trends
Several consumption trends are shaping the beef industry and projections for future demand:
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Convenience – more consumers are purchasing prepared beef products like heat-and-eat hamburgers or beef jerky as quick high-protein snacks.
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Health concerns – some consumers are reducing beef intake due to saturated fat and cholesterol levels.
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Plant-based alternatives – the market for meatless burgers and other beef substitutes is rapidly growing.
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Grass-finished beef – demand is increasing for beef perceived as more natural, humanely raised, or environmentally friendly.
So while total beef consumption has rebounded from pre-pandemic lows, the market will continue evolving based on changing consumer priorities.Beef growers and processors will need to cater to these preferences to sustain future industry growth.
The Beef Supply Chain
Providing around 30 billion pounds of beef to American consumers involves a complex, multi-stage supply chain. Here are some key statistics on the beef production pipeline:
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The US cattle inventory totaled 91.9 million heads in January 2022. This breeding herd supplies the beef industry.
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34.8 million cattle were slaughtered in the US in 2022 to produce 28.3 billion pounds of beef.
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Top cattle producing states include Texas (4.9 million heads), Nebraska (6.3 million), and Kansas (5.5 million).
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Around 12-15% of US beef production is exported each year. Top markets are Japan, South Korea, and Mexico.
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The US imported 3.4 billion lbs of beef in 2022, mostly from Canada (28%) and Mexico (22%).
So American ranchers and meatpackers provide most of the nation’s beef supply domestically. Imports help supplement US production to satisfy America’s demand for beef.
Environmental Impacts
With beef production being carbon-intensive, the climate change impacts of American beef consumption have faced greater scrutiny.
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Beef production accounts for 3.7% of total US greenhouse gas emissions.
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The beef industry generates 8-10 times more emissions than chicken or plant proteins like beans.
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Shrinking pastureland is spurring concerns about deforestation for cattle grazing acreage.
Given these environmental issues, some climate advocates are calling for reduced beef consumption in favor of lower carbon proteins. More sustainable beef production methods are also being pursued.
The Bottom Line
Beef continues to be a dietary staple for many Americans, with consumption rebounding beyond pre-pandemic levels. But the beef industry faces challenges in responding to evolving consumer demands in areas like health, sustainability, convenience, and quality.
Maintaining strong beef demand will require continuously adapting production practices, marketing approaches, and research investments to align with the preferences of modern beef eaters. The coming decades will determine whether the US can sustain its beef consumption trajectory and what new milestones may be achieved.
Clara S Lau1National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, 9110 East Nichols Ave., Suite 300, Centennial, CO 80112, USA; [email protected] articles by
Received 2023 Apr 4; Revised 2023 May 17; Accepted 2023 May 22; Collection date 2023 Jun. © 2023 by the authors.
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Evidence-based dietary advice regarding meats (including beef), requires accurate assessment of beef and other red meat intakes across life stages. Beef intake is subject to misclassification due to the use of broad categories such as “red and processed meat”. In the current study, intake trends for total beef (i.e., any beef type) and specific beef types (fresh lean, ground, processed) among Americans participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2018 (n = 74,461) were characterized and usual intake was assessed using NHANES 2011–2018 (n = 30,679). The usual intake amounts of beef were compared to those of relevant protein food subgroups modeled in the Healthy U.S.-Style Dietary Pattern (HDP) reported in the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). Total per capita beef consumption declined an average of 12 g (p < 0.0001) for ages 2–18 years and 5.7 g (p = 0.0004) for ages 19–59 years per 2-yr NHANES cycle, over the 18-year timeframe, while remaining unchanged for Americans aged 60+ years. On a per capita basis, Americans aged 2 years and older consumed 42.2 g (1.5 ounces) of total beef per day. Fresh lean beef per capita consumption was 33.4 g (1.2 ounces) per day. Per capita intake was similar across all age groups and below the daily HDP modeled amount of 3.7 ounce equivalents for the “Meats, Poultry, Eggs” (MPE) subgroup, while approximately 75% of beef consumers’ intakes of total beef was within HDP modeling. Evidence from intake trends suggests beef is not overconsumed by the majority of Americans but rather within the amounts for MPE and red meat modeled in the HDP of the DGA at the 2000-calorie level.
Keywords: red meat, beef, lean fresh beef, ground beef, processed beef, dietary intake, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), United States, usual intake, meat products
Beef is a commonly consumed food and an inherent source of many essential nutrients including high-quality protein, vitamins B6 and B12, zinc, and readily bioavailable heme iron [1,2]. Beef is a red meat, but the commonly used phrases “red meat” and “red and processed meat” encompasses more than just beef, typically referring to the combination of beef, pork, lamb, and game meat, both fresh and processed [3]. The use of broad terminology such as “red and processed meat” increases the risk of misclassification of beef and other red meat intake data [4,5]. Nonetheless, recommendations to eat less “red and processed meat” persist in current dietary guidance in the United States (U.S.) [6,7] based, at least in part, on observational evidence reporting weak associations between “red and processed meat” consumption and risk of chronic disease [8,9]. Interpretation of advice to eat less “red and processed meat” is further complicated by advice that encourages “lean meat” [6,7], as lean beef, red meat, processed meat, and lean meat are not mutually exclusive categories [5]. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025 (DGA) indicate that protein foods, including lean meats, are core elements in a healthy diet [7]. Although the DGA do not provide beef-specific intake recommendations, the Healthy U.S.-Style Dietary Pattern (HDP), for a 2000-calorie diet, models 3.7 ounces (oz) or 104.9 g of lean meat, poultry and/or eggs per day as part of a healthy dietary pattern [7].
Without a comprehensive and accurate knowledge of intake of individual meat types across all life stages, it is difficult to evaluate the relationships between red and processed meat intake and disease risk to support the development of evidence-based dietary advice [4]. Previous analyses of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2016 reported the consumption of processed meat (including processed red meat and processed poultry meat) remained unchanged, while fresh red meat and fresh beef consumption decreased among adults in the U.S. [10]. During this same time period, fresh poultry, predominantly chicken, significantly increased among U.S. adults [10]. The current study characterizes intake of total beef (i.e., any beef type) and individual beef types (fresh lean, ground, and processed) across life stages using NHANES 2001–2018 data, with the specific objectives to: (1.) Describe intake trends for total beef and individual beef types for the general population across life stages; (2.) Report intake distribution of beef and beef types on both a per capita and per consumer basis; and (3.) Compare per capita and per consumer beef intake to the modeled “Meats, Poultry, Eggs” (MPE) subgroup of the Protein Foods group in the HDP presented in the 2020–2025 DGA.
3. Analytical Sample—Usual Intake of Beef, per Capita and per Consumer
For analyses looking at current beef intake distribution, we used data from NHANES 2011–2018, which provides an updated assessment of previous work [1,12]. The total sample included 30,679 subjects after exclusions. Usual intake was determined using the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) methodology [13] incorporating both days of dietary recall. The two-part model (proportion and amount) was used to determine usual intakes for both per capita (combines consumers and non-consumers of beef) and consumer-only population groups (defined as those with beef consumption on Day 1). Data representing the combination of consumers and non-consumers of beef are referred to as “per capita” in the results and discussed using “average”-related terminology. Data representing consumer-only populations are referred to as “beef consumers” or “consumer-only”. Data were analyzed separately for age groups: 2+ years (general population), 2–18 years (children and adolescents), 19–59 years (adults), and 60+ years (older adults), as outlined in the DGA.
An Overview of Meat Consumption in the United States
FAQ
How much beef is consumed in the US per day?
On a per capita basis, Americans aged 2 years and older consumed 42.2 g (1.5 ounces) of total beef per day. Fresh lean beef per capita consumption was 33.4 g (1.2 ounces) per day.
How much beef is sold in the US each year?
Beef retail in the United States
Beef has the highest retail sales of any fresh meat in the United States, as of 2021. In that year, over 30 billion U.S. dollars worth of fresh beef were sold in the United States.
Are 12% of Americans eating half our beef supply?
A new study has found that 12% of Americans are responsible for eating half of all beef consumed on a given day, a finding that may help consumer groups and government agencies craft educational messaging around the negative health and environmental impacts of beef consumption.
Which country has the highest consumption of beef?
Argentina is the country which has the highest per capita beef consumption in the world. Scroll down to know more.Apr 21, 2025
How much beef do Americans eat per capita?
Beef consumption U.S. 2002 This statistic shows the per capita consumption of beef in the United States from 2000 to 2022 and includes a forecast from 2023 to 2033. The U.S. per capita consumption of beef amounted to 59.1 pounds in 2022.
How much beef is consumed in the United States in 2021?
Beef consumption in the United States reached a new high in 2021, when 30 billion pounds were consumed. This is an increase in consumption of about 8.7 percent compared to the previous year and the highest consumption recorded during the period under consideration. The United States is the world’s top producer of beef and veal.
How many people eat beef in the world?
Despite the large number of people who eat vegetarian diets or eschew beef, the world has millions of beef eaters. In fact, in 2020, global consumption of beef reached 130 billion pounds. When looking at beef consumption in individual countries, either the food supply or consumption values provide the necessary information.
What is beef consumption?
Beef consumption reflects the amount of beef actually consumed and not thrown away due to spoilage or waste. Therefore, the consumption values are typically lower than the supply numbers for a country.
Is beef the most consumed meat in the United States?
No, beef is not the most consumed meat in the United States. In the early 1990s, sales of chicken by weight overtook beef. In 2020, the average U.S. consumer bought 57.8 pounds of chicken, 37.3 pounds of beef and 30.2 pounds of pork.
Which meat has the highest per capita consumption?
Chicken Has the Highest Per Capita Meat Consumption Than Beef and Pork. (Farm Doc Daily) There has always been a shift in trends when it comes to consuming chicken, beef, and pork. But now, chicken has the highest per capita meat consumption. In 2021, meat consumption per capita was 96.6, and total poultry was 113.4.