Vegan statistics (original) (raw)
Imaner Consultants
The following statistics summarise the research into veganism in the UK and abroad.
Stat of the week...
More likely to see a 170 checkout? Statistically, the probability of seeing a top darts player finish a 170 checkout in three darts is 0.5%, whereas the probability of seeing a vegan in the UK is smaller at 0.3%! (Sources: Darts Scientifically by Kari Kaitanen and vegan stats below.)
The number of vegans in the UK is estimated at around 180,000 or 0.3% of the population (based on the surveys below, see note).
| Year | % of UK population | No of vegans | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 0.3% | 162,000 * | (13) |
| 2006 | 0.1% | 86,000 * | (12) |
| 2005 | 0.5% | 279,000 * | (11) |
| 2004 | 0.6% | 363,000 * | (10) |
| 2003 | 0.4% | 235,000 * | (9) |
| 2002 | 0.2% | 132,000 * | (8) |
| 2002 | 0.1% | 71,000 * | (7) |
| 2001 | 0.3% | 176,000 * | (6) |
| 2001 | 0.3% | 182,000 * | (5) |
| 2000 | 0.3% | 195,000 * | (4) |
| 1997 | 0.4% * | 224,000 | (2) |
| 1995 | 0.3% * | 170,000 | (2) |
| 1994 | 0.2% | 112,000 * | (3) |
| 1993 | 0.2% * | 100,000 | (2) |
| Avg | 0.3% | 178,000 | (1) |
* This number has been extrapolated to enable comparisons between surveys. It is based upon the latest population estimates available and may therefore change over time.
NOTE:
These figures exclude the DEFRA, Public Attitudes and Behaviours toward the Environment 2007 study which erroneously estimated the number of vegans in the UK at over 1.3 million (2.2%). This was due to a proven misclassification between vegans and vegetarians and resulted in a published figure that was incorrect by a factor of ten.
(13) Food Standards Agency, Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards 2007.
(12) Food Standards Agency, Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards 2006.
(11) Food Standards Agency, Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards 2005.
(10) Food Standards Agency, Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards 2004.
(9) Food Standards Agency, Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards 2003.
(8) Food Standards Agency, The National Diet & Nutrition Survey 2002.
(7) Food Standards Agency, Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards 2002.
(6) Food Standards Agency, Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards 2001.
(5) Today/ICM Research Poll - Feb 2001.
(4) Food Standards Agency, Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards Report, Oct-Dec 2000.
(3) MAFF Dietary Survey of Vegetarians 1994-1995 UK Data Archive.
(2) Realeat/Gallup surveys into Meat-Eating and Vegetarianism, from the introduction to The Vegan Shopper, published by The Vegan Society, Jun 2000.
(1) The mean average based on all surveys.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Vegetarian stats since 2000: www.vegsoc.org/page.aspx?pid=753