In 2020, Ireland was ranked among the top ten countries globally for being one of the most vegan-friendly countries in the world.
In 2020, Chef’s Pencil, a food magazine for culinary industry professionals, released its annual report on the most popular countries and cities worldwide for veganism.
The study utilised Google Trends data to analyse worldwide search interest levels for veganism.
According to the report, vegan-related searches were at an all-time high in 2020, easily surpassing interest in 2019. The data also showed that veganism is now twice as popular as five years ago.
Ireland ranked in the top ten countries in the world for veganism – one of the most vegan-friendly countries in the world
Ireland scored 10th when it came to the world’s best countries for veganism and earned 6th place for the best countries in Europe for veganism.
According to the 2019 Wellwoman Vegan study, approximately 49% of Irish people said they would go vegan for environmental and ethical reasons, with 37% saying they would permanently change to a vegan diet.
The report also revealed that as far as Ireland was concerned, Dublin, Cork and Galway were home to most vegans.
The United Kingdom topped the list, followed by Australia and Israel, with the United States only ranking in 12th place.
The entire top fifteen list for the best countries in the world for veganism reads as follows: United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, Austria, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada such as Ontario, Ireland, Netherlands, United States, Denmark, Finland and Chile.
The rise of veganism in Ireland – increasing in popularity
Veganism has steadily risen in popularity in Ireland over the past decade. According to a survey conducted by Ipsos MRBI in 2019, approximately 4% of the Irish population identifies as vegan.
This was a significant increase from previous years. It is also proof of the rise in more favourable attitudes concerning plant-based diets.
The increase in veganism can be attributed to various factors, such as increased awareness of environmental issues, animal welfare, and the potential health benefits of a vegan diet.
Social media and the internet have also been credited with playing a huge role in the promotion and awareness of veganism, which has helped make it more appealing to people worldwide.
The benefits of having a plant-based diet – there are many advantages
A plant-based diet is based on vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and whole grains. Thus, they exclude all animal products such as dairy, eggs and meat.
Plant-based diets have numerous health benefits. These include a lower risk of heart disease, certain types of cancer and diabetes.
Diets that are plant-based are also higher in fibre than most, aiding digestion and weight management.
They also have a lower carbon footprint, which can help reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture.
This is a significant contributor to environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and deforestation. You can read the full Chef’s Pencil website report here.
