India has the most vegetarians of any country by share of population, with an estimated 30 to 40 percent of its roughly 1.44 billion people eating a vegetarian diet. That is hundreds of millions of people, far more than any other nation. Most other countries sit in the low single digits to around 10 percent.
Introduction
Vegetarianism means avoiding meat, poultry and fish, though definitions vary from place to place. Some vegetarians eat eggs and dairy, while stricter forms avoid all animal products. Measuring how many people follow the diet is tricky because surveys use different questions and people often overstate or understate their habits. Even so, one pattern is consistent across every reliable study: India dwarfs the rest of the world.
India dominates for religious and cultural reasons rather than recent lifestyle trends. Beyond India, vegetarianism is a minority choice almost everywhere, driven by ethics, health, environment and cost. This guide ranks countries by the estimated share of the population that is vegetarian and explains what shapes those numbers.
Countries Ranked by Share of Vegetarians
The clear world leader
- India: Roughly 30 to 40 percent of the population, by far the highest share on Earth. Estimates vary because survey methods differ, but even the lowest credible figures make India the vegetarian capital of the world. In absolute terms this means several hundred million vegetarians, more than the rest of the world combined.
Notable but much lower
- Mexico: Around 15 to 20 percent report avoiding meat in some surveys, though many are flexitarian rather than strictly vegetarian. A strong tradition of bean, corn and vegetable dishes makes plant-based eating accessible.
- Brazil: Roughly 10 to 14 percent identify as vegetarian in recent national surveys, a share that has climbed noticeably in large cities over the past decade.
- Taiwan: An estimated 10 to 14 percent are vegetarian, largely tied to Buddhist practice, and vegetarian restaurants are widespread and clearly labeled.
- Israel: Around 5 to 13 percent depending on the survey, one of the highest rates in the world outside Asia, supported by a vibrant plant-based food scene in Tel Aviv.
- Italy: Roughly 6 to 9 percent, helped by a Mediterranean cuisine rich in vegetables, legumes, pasta and cheese.
- Germany: Around 8 to 10 percent, one of the higher shares in Europe and home to a booming market for meat substitutes.
- United Kingdom: Roughly 5 to 8 percent vegetarian, with an additional growing group of vegans, especially among younger adults.
The gap between India and everyone else is enormous. The number two country by share is not even half of India's rate, and most wealthy nations hover between 5 and 10 percent. It is important to separate strict vegetarians from the much larger group of flexitarians who simply eat less meat, since surveys that blur the two produce inflated figures.
Why India Dominates
India's vegetarianism is rooted in religion and culture rather than modern dietary fashion. The principle of ahimsa, or non-violence toward living beings, is central to Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, and it discourages the killing of animals for food. Many Hindu communities have practiced vegetarianism for centuries, and Jains follow especially strict rules that avoid not only meat but also certain root vegetables.
Regional variation within India is large. States in the north and west, such as Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana, have very high vegetarian shares, while coastal and eastern states with strong fishing traditions eat far more meat and seafood. Cost and availability also play a role, but the core driver is a deep cultural and religious heritage that no other country shares on the same scale. This is why India's position at the top is stable and unlikely to be challenged.
Good to Know
Which country has the most vegetarians?
India has the most vegetarians by a wide margin, with an estimated 30 to 40 percent of its population, equal to several hundred million people. No other nation comes close in either share or absolute numbers.
Are vegetarianism figures reliable?
They are approximate. Surveys define vegetarianism differently, some counting anyone who eats less meat, and self-reported diets are often inaccurate. That is why figures are given as ranges, though the overall ranking is consistent across studies.
Which Western countries have the highest vegetarian rates?
Germany, Italy, Israel and the United Kingdom tend to report the highest shares in the Western world, typically between 5 and 10 percent, with plant-based eating growing fastest among younger people.