Survey Says: 10% of Sweden Now Vegan or Vegetarian

According to the Independent, a new poll commissioned by Animal Rights Sweden shows that 10% of Swedes identify as vegan or vegetarian — that’s nearly one million people. This number has increased by 4% over the past five years and is expected to rise, particularly among younger demographics, 17% of whom described themselves as vegan or vegetarian.

Of the one in 10 Swedes identifying as vegan or vegetarian, 21% said they were strongly influenced by their concern for animals, and 28% said they were partly concerned for this reason.

The study also noted that more people are eating meat-free meals thanks to the increasing availability of vegetarian products in stores – in fact, the number of people interested in purchasing vegetarian products has risen from 26% in 2009 to a whopping 37% today!

Sweden is not the only European country with an expanding interest in vegetarian eating: Italy and Germany boast the highest rate of vegetarians in the European Union, and Germany’s popular all-vegan grocery chain Veganz is expanding to London this year and aiming to have 21 outposts throughout Europe by 2015.

Fortunately, interest in vegan foods is growing right here in the US too. Want to give it a try for week? Sign up for our 7-Day VegPledge and get FREE recipes, coupons, tips, and more!