While several sources cite different countries with high pork consumption, considering both per capita consumption and total consumption, China is the country that eats the most pork.
Per Capita Consumption vs. Total Consumption
It's crucial to distinguish between per capita consumption (pork consumption per person) and total consumption (overall amount of pork consumed). Different sources highlight different metrics.
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High Per Capita Consumption: Hong Kong consistently ranks highly in per capita pork consumption, with figures around 55 kg per person annually. Source: World Population Review
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High Total Consumption: China, including Hong Kong and Macau, consumes a vastly larger total amount of pork due to its massive population. In 2021, consumption figures for Mainland China were around 37 kg/inhabitant, while Hong Kong and Macau reported 61 and 52 kg/inhabitant respectively. Even with higher per capita consumption in Hong Kong and Macau, China's sheer population size results in significantly higher total pork consumption. Source: Various sources including Pig333
Several other East Asian countries also demonstrate high pork consumption, reflecting cultural preferences and culinary traditions. Source: Swineweb The Republic of Korea, for instance, has high domestic demand, often supplementing it with imports.
Conclusion
Although Hong Kong boasts impressive per capita pork consumption, China's enormous population makes it the leading consumer of pork globally.
