A new map highlights the countries that eat the most meat, pinpointing the world's biggest consumers and detailing how consumption varies across the globe.
Impacted by dietary preferences, religious and cultural values and the levels of overall food consumed, the amount of meat different countries eat varies immensely.
Drawing on data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Population Review compiled its rankings of which countries consume the most meat per capita, seen here on a map created by Newsweek.
While the levels of meat eaten largely correlated with the overall quantity of food consumed, there are a few significant outliers.
Hong Kong, at 136.31 kilograms (301 pounds) per capita, eats more meat than any other country in the world on an annual basis. Its citizens have a particular predilection for pork and chicken, accounting for over 80 percent of the meat eaten, as these represent a staple of Cantonese cuisine.
As well being the all-round biggest meat-lover, Hong Kong also consumes more pork than any other country, at 55.24 kilograms per capita annually. Israel eats the most poultry, at 64.9 kilograms, while people in Kazakhstan consume the most lamb at 8.5 kilograms per person every year.
According to a 2018 study by Hong Kong University's Earth Sciences department, however, Hong Kong's love affair with meat is the primary contributor to the city-state's disproportionately high greenhouse gas emissions.
The authors outlined how altering Hong Kong's meat-heavy diet to one "in accordance with governmental nutrition guidelines" could result in a 67 percent reduction in livestock-related emissions, and contribute toward the country achieving the goals set out in its 2030 Climate Action Plan.
The U.S. sits in second place, eating 128.63 kilograms per capita annually.
Its position in the list is unsurprising, given that America's per capita daily calorie intake (3,911) is higher than any other country, according to the Oxford University-based research organization Out World in Data.
The U.S. is followed closely by Australia, at 121.53 kilograms per capita, and Mongolia at 111.56 kilograms.
Argentina eats 110.16 kilograms per capita annually, according to the World Population Review, placing it fifth in the world for overall meat consumption. The country consumes more beef than any other, and its steak is widely renowned as some of the best in the world.
However, triple-digit inflation, a recession and rising poverty have forced Argentinians to rein in their love of beef.
According to the Rosario Board of Trade economic forum, Argentina's 2024 beef consumption is projected to drop to its lowest level since records began in 1914.
Argentina's vast grasslands provide an ideal environment for the rearing of cattle, but its livestock sector is also taking a toll on the country's carbon neutral ambitions and economic prospects.
In June, The Argentine Beef Promotion Institute enacted a new certification system to ensure that all beef exported from the country was produced without any deforestation.
This is in anticipation of a new European Union regulation, set to come into effect in December, requiring that all products consumed in the EU market are produced in a sustainable manner.
This map-based analysis of global meat consumption not only highlights regional dietary preferences, but also raises important questions about sustainability and the future of food. As the world grapples with climate change and environmental degradation, understanding and potentially altering meat consumption patterns could play a crucial role in mitigating the damage.
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