Intensive livestock farming has negative consequences for the environment. It is characterised by high land and water consumption, pollutes soil and water and contributes to climate change with its emissions. Nevertheless, animal farming is expanding worldwide: the world's population is growing. The increasing prosperity in many emerging and developing countries is changing nutrition patterns.

Annual meat consumption has increased in recent decades. While the average annual global consumption in 2012 was 41.4 kilograms per capita, it had risen to 44.5 kilograms by 2022.

Food supply quantity 2022, selected countries

	Poultry	Pig	Bovine	Other	Total
	kilogrammes per capita
Germany	16.5	39.0	14.1	1.8	71.4
France	24.6	33.7	23.2	3.0	84.5
China	17.7	40.2	8.1	4.6	70.6
India	3.5	0.2	2.2	0.7	6.6
Nigeria	1.6	1.7	1.5	2.8	7.6
United States	53.5	29.9	38.0	1.5	122.9
World	17.0	15.3	9.4	2.8	44.5

Poultry: chicken, duck, goose, guinea fowl, turkey. Other: mutton, goat and other. Source: FAO ("Food balances"/"Food Balances (2010-)")

Expansion of animal farming

In order to meet the demand for meat and other animal products, animal farming has increased significantly worldwide. In 2022, for example, around 26.6 billion chickens were kept globally. This was approximately 68% more than in 2002.

Animal farming: the most common animal types worldwide

	2002	2012	2022	2022, change on 2002
	billion			%
Chickens	15.8	20.4	26.6	+68
Cattle	1.3	1.4	1.6	+16
Sheep	1.0	1.1	1.3	+28
Goats	0.8	0.9	1.1	+46
Ducks	1.0	1.0	1.1	+9
Pigs	0.9	1.0	1.0	+10

Source: FAO ("Production"/"Crops and livestock products"/"Live Animals")

Meat production

Globally, approximately 361 million tonnes of meat were produced in 2022. Poultry meat production almost doubled (+87%).

Global meat production

	2002	2012	2022	2022, change on 2002
	carcass weight, million tonnes			%
Total	243.0	307.5	360.6	+48
including:
Poultry	74.6	107.2	139.2	+87
Pig	92.4	112.3	122.6	+33
Bovine	55.8	62.0	69.3	+24
Other	20.1	26.0	29.5	+46

Poultry: chicken, duck, goose, guinea fowl, turkey. Source: FAO ("Production"/"Crops and livestock products"/"Livestock Primary")

Alternatives to factory farming

There is an ongoing social debate about animal welfare. In the EU, according to Eurostat the proportion of cattle kept in a species-appropriate manner was very low.

Last update 27.11.2024