Chicken has become the most consumed meat on the planet

Chicken has become the most consumed meat on the planet, writes Financial Times. In 2023, 76.2 billion chickens were raised worldwide, compared to 48.3 billion in 2006.

The Asia-Pacific region became the engine of growth, followed by America and Europe. At the same time, two countries — China and the USA — account for a third of global demand.
Meat, which for most of the 20th century was an expensive choice for a minority, has become a favorite source of protein in the 21st century — and the popularity of chicken continues to grow, the article states. Experts believe that "peak chicken" has not yet been reached.

The success of poultry is explained by its cost, feeding efficiency, speed of production, and the absence of cultural or religious restrictions, unlike pork or beef.

Chicken easily adapts to any cuisine, religion, and price segment. McDonald's, which built its business on beef burgers, stated in its latest report that the global chicken market is twice the size of the beef market and is growing faster.