An estimated 2.5 million UK adults are following a vegan diet at the start of 2024, which is 4.7% of the population. This has grown by an impressive 1.1 million since last year when the annual research from personal finance comparison site finder.com found that there were an estimated 1.4 million vegans in the UK (2.5%).
This year’s research found an additional 3.8% of Brits are planning to adopt a vegan diet in 2024. While they might not stick to their intentions, if they did, this would equate to approximately 2 million more vegans by the start of 2025, bringing the total to around 4.5 million.
More than one in 10 Brits plan to adopt a meat-free diet in 2024
An estimated 6.4 million Brits (12%) are intending to adopt some form of meat-free diet this year, whether that’s becoming vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian.
Currently, 16% of UK adults are following a meat-free diet, which is around 8.6 million people. This has increased by around 20% since the start of 2023, when an estimated 7.2 million people were cutting out meat.
Over half of generation Z follows a meat-free diet or plans to start one this year
More than a quarter of generation Z (26%), aged 18 to 23, are currently following a meat-free diet, including 9% vegans, 9% vegetarians, and 8% pescatarians.
Another quarter (26%) are hoping to give up meat in 2024. If they stick to their plan, this means more than half of this generation (52%) would cut meat from their diet by 2025 – with fewer meat-eaters than those who have given it up.
Millennials (aged 24-42) are not far behind, with more than 1 in 5 (22%) eating a meat-free diet and 17% hoping to adopt one in 2024.
However, the desire to give up meat decreases with age. 14% of generation X (aged 43-54), 12% of baby boomers (aged 55-73) and just 4% of the silent generation (aged 74+) currently follow a diet that excludes meat. When it comes to changing their habits in 2024, just 12% of generation X, 5% of baby boomers and 2% of the silent generation expressed an intention to become vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian.
Londoners are most likely to cut meat out of their diets
London leads the way with meat-free dieting, with 1 in 5 (20%) identifying as vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian and a further quarter (25%) planning to cut meat out this year. This is perhaps unsurprising in a city where there are so many varied and easily accessible options for those who want to eat vegan, vegetarian or pescetarian meals.
At the other end of the scale, Northern Ireland and Wales have the smallest number of residents not eating meat, with just 7% each following one of these diets. Those in the North East are least likely to give up meat this year, with only 9% expressing a desire to do so.
