Mobile Menu

Business Environment Profiles - United States

Per capita pork consumption

Published: 14 October 2024

Key Metrics

Per capita pork consumption

Total (2025)

52 Pounds (lb)

Annualized Growth 2020-25

0.2 %

Definition of Per capita pork consumption

Per capita pork consumption represents the total retail weight in pounds of pork consumed by the average American. Data is sourced and forecasted from the US Department of Agriculture and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Analyze the wider world in which businesses operate

We measure the upstream and downstream ramifications on thousands of industries so businesses can monitor their external operating environment. Explore membership options today.

Purchase options

Included in an IBISWorld Membership

Our industry reports include 35+ pages of data, analysis and charts, including:

  • Industry Financial Ratios
    Industry Financial Ratios
  • Historical and Forecast Growth
    Historical and Forecast Growth
  • Industry Market Size
    Industry Market Size
  • Industry Major Players
    Industry Major Players
  • Profitability Analysis
    Profitability Analysis
  • SWOT Analysis
    SWOT Analysis
  • Industry Trends
    Industry Trends
  • Industry Operating Conditions
    Industry Operating Conditions

Recent Trends – Per capita pork consumption

Pork consumption remains relatively steady, with fluctuations occurring in line with price changes associated with supply. Pork consumption's decline in 2008 was exacerbated by adverse economic conditions restricting the average consumer's disposable income. As a result, consumption of most products fell; pork was no exception, falling 2.8% in 2008. Although consumption rebounded in 2009, it fell again in 2010 due to lowered production and an increase in pork exports. This trend continued in 2011, with a 4.4% decline in consumption. Over the past decade, pork consumption has risen from 47.2 pounds per person in 2010 to an estimated 51.9 pounds per person in 2019 (latest data available).

Nevertheless, as general macroeconomic conditions improved post-recession, consumption rebounded in 2012, 2013 and 2015, which helped offset declines in both 2011 and 2014. In 2016 and 2017, per capita pork consumption grew from record hog supplies. Pork consumption decreased slightly in 2020 as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has changed consumer spending patterns, with households eating more at home than restaurants. This has led to an increase in cooking at home, which partially offsets the decrease in pork consumption from eating out at restaurants. However, the pandemic also pushed more consumers to save more, which means they are likely to spend less on pricier products, such as pork. Thus, the net effect resulted in a decline of 0.8% in per capita pork consumption in 2020 alone. Following the pandemic, the appeal of pork has been on an uneven rollercoaster, with factors like costs hurting their market appeal while the presence of poultry hurts the appeal of pork as uniquely being a source of meals for consumers. In 2021, consumption of pork became lower as the impacts of the pandemic remained afoot in various markets while consumers were just beginning to return back to normal, giving the food a decent boost in 2022 in consumption as consumers began to venture out more and with more eateries opening up again. But high costs and changing needs among consumers that now have to deal with these high costs have been shaping the market too, leading to a drop in consumption in 2023. Consumers will gradually return to pork as the economy recovers more as this will help consumption go up in 2024 following extremely high inflation from past years, helping consumers absorb the cost of food items like pork. Even then, consumption is set to drop in 2025 but just slightly as consumption habits normalize following these years.

Show more

5-Year Outlook – Per capita pork consumption

Through the end of 2030, per capita pork consumption is expected to expand. The gradual shift fro...

Looking for IBISWorld Industry Reports?

Gain strategic insight and analysis on thousands of industries.

Trusted by More Than 10,000 Clients Around the World

  • IBISWorld client - VISA
  • IBISWorld client - ADP
  • IBISWorld client - Deloitte
  • IBISWorld client - AMEX
  • IBISWorld client - Bank of Montreal