When you think of the number 1 meat in the world, the most consumed type of meat globally, measured by total weight eaten by humans each year. Also known as top meat by volume, it’s not steak, not bacon, not even lamb—it’s chicken. Every year, over 100 billion chickens are raised and eaten worldwide. That’s more than all other meats combined. People in China, the U.S., Brazil, and even small villages in India are eating chicken more than any other animal protein. It’s cheap, easy to cook, and fits into almost every diet.
Why chicken? It’s not just about taste. Beef is expensive, pork needs refrigeration, and lamb is rare in many places. Chicken grows fast, uses less land, and turns feed into meat more efficiently. In rural India, a single chicken can feed a family for days. In cities like Mumbai or Delhi, chicken biryani or grilled tikka is a daily meal. Even in places where beef is taboo or pork is avoided, chicken is acceptable across religions and cultures. It’s the one meat that doesn’t cause conflict—it just gets eaten.
Related to this are other key players in global meat consumption. beef, the meat most associated with wealth and tradition in countries like Argentina and the U.S. still holds cultural power, but its global volume is half of chicken’s. pork, popular in China and parts of Europe, is the third most eaten meat, but its growth has slowed due to disease outbreaks and changing diets. Then there’s lamb, a niche meat tied to specific regions like the Middle East and Australia. It’s flavorful, but it doesn’t move in the same scale. Chicken doesn’t need a special occasion. You can eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner—and you probably already have, today.
The posts below don’t talk about meat directly, but they cover the places where chicken is eaten most: from street food in Mumbai to temple visits in North India, from budget travel tips to safety advice for foreign visitors. If you’re planning a trip to India and wondering what’s on the menu, chicken is your safest, most common bet. Whether you’re trekking the Himalayas or relaxing on a Goa beach, you’ll find it everywhere. No guidebook lists it as the #1 meat—but your stomach will.
