German meat consumption rose again in 2025. Chicken showed the largest increase, but well over half of the meat consumed remains pork. Read this article for the precise figures.
Meat consumption in Germany continued to rise in 2025. According to preliminary figures from the Bundesinformationszentrum Landwirtschaft (BZL), consumers ate an average of 54,9 kilograms of meat per person. This represents an increase of 1,4 kilograms compared to a year earlier. This continues the trend of the past three years, with rising meat consumption. However, the level remains clearly below that of 2011, when consumption stood at 63,8 kilograms per person.
The strongest growth is visible in poultry meat. With an average consumption of 14,7 kilos per person, a new record was reached in 2025. This underscores a shift in consumer behavior towards lighter types of meat.
Ate more beef
Despite that shift, pork remains by far the most important type of meat in Germany. Consumption averaged 28,3 kilos per person, accounting for nearly 52% of total meat demand. Consumption of beef and veal also rose slightly. Despite higher consumer prices, consumption increased by over 200 grams to 9,7 kilos per person.
On the other hand, domestic meat production is not growing in line with consumption. In 2025, total production fell slightly by 0,3% to 7,3 million tonnes. Beef production, in particular, was under pressure, with a decline of approximately 6% due to fewer slaughterings.
Poultry meat production remained just below the 2024 level at 1,5 million tonnes, partly due to the impact of bird flu. Pork production, on the other hand, showed a slight increase of 1,1%. This is associated with a stable number of animals and a higher average slaughter weight.
To meet the rising demand, imports of meat and meat products increased. In 2025, imports rose by nearly 11% to 3,6 million tonnes. Growth was particularly evident in beef, poultry, and lamb.