The Most Popular Countries and Cities for Vegans in 2018

The unstoppable rise of veganism – how a fringe movement went mainstream, – reads the headline of the Guardian newspaper in April 2018. Veganism is on a major rise world-wide and the days of meat eaters are slowly coming to an end.

And indeed, Google confirms the massive rise of veganism world-wide. In 2018, searches in the Veganism category, which comprises vegan-related searches made in any language (e.g. “veganism”, “vegan restaurants”, “vegan rezepte”, “vegan recipes“), surpassed by a wide margin searches made in previous years. The popularity of vegan-related searches was 11% higher than 2017 and 35% higher compared to 2016.

We used Google Trends data to compare the popularity of veganism across the world. Google assigns a score for each location (broken down by country and city) that shows the interest level of a given topic by comparing searches made for that topic to all Google searches made in that particular location.

For example, if Google assigns a 100 score to Australia for veganism searches and a 78 score for the United States, it means that the percentage of Aussies who searched for veganism is much higher than the percentage of Americans searching for the same topic.

It doesn’t mean that, in absolute terms, there were more searches for veganism in Australia compared to the US – this would be quite unusual as Australia has a population 10 times smaller than the US.

Let’s take a look at the countries and cities where veganism was most popular in 2018.

Most Popular Countries for Veganism in 2018

1. Australia

Vegan Popularity Score: 100

2017 Ranking: 1st

Sydney Opera House; Photo Credit: Bernard Spragg. NZ



Australia was the most popular country for vegans in 2018, retaining its first place from 2017.



Veganism has become hugely popular in Australia and more and more Aussies are turning to a plant-based diet. Proof: Australia was the 3rd fastest growing market for vegan products in 2018, according to Euromonitor International.



Australia also boosts 3 of the world’s top 20 cities where veganism was most popular in 2018.

2. United Kingdom

Vegan Popularity Score: 98

2017 Ranking: 3rd

Guard at Buckingham Palace; Photo Credit: das_sabrinchen



The number of vegans in the United Kingdom soared to 3.5 million in 2018, up a whopping 700%, according to Livekindly. 7% of Brits are vegans and 14% are vegetarians, and it is thought that the Veganuary campaign, where people eat vegan for the month of January, has contributed substantially to the rise of veganism in the UK.



The UK also boosts 6(!) of the world’s top 20 cities where veganism was most popular in 2018.

3. New Zealand

Vegan Popularity Score: 87

2017 Ranking: 4th

New Zealand; Photo Credit: Andrea Shaffer

Kiwis’ appetite for an exclusive plant-based diet has soared recently, so much so that vegan product suppliers are struggling to keep up with demand, according to a report.

4. Sweden

Vegan Popularity Score: 84

2017 Ranking: 2nd

Turning Torso in Malmo, Sweden; Photo Credit: Maria Eklind

One in every five Swedes under 30 identifies themselves as either vegan or vegetarian, and a plant-based diet is more appealing to 50% of the population compared to a year ago. No surprise then that Sweden is one of the leading countries of the veganism movement.

5. Canada

Vegan Popularity Score: 79

2017 Ranking: 5th

Winter Olympics Torch; Photo Credit: Taylor McBride

More than 3 million Canadians are either vegan or vegetarian, according to a recent study of Dalhousie University. It is young Canadians that are driving the change in eating habits, as the younger generation is three times more likely to be either vegetarian or vegan than the older generations.

6. Israel

Vegan Popularity Score: 78

2017 Ranking: 6th

Tel Aviv Skyline, Israel; Photo Credit: Ted Eytan

Israel touts itself as the world leading vegan country with 5.2% of the population relying on a plant-based diet. Domino’s, the largest pizza franchise in the world, chose Israel to launch its first vegan pizza.

7. United States

Vegan Popularity Score: 65

2017 Ranking: 7th

United States Capitol; Photo Credit: Phil Roeder



According to a new report, a whopping 6% of the American population is now vegan, up 600% in three years. However, Gallup puts the percentage of vegans at a more down-to-earth 3% of the total population. Regardless of the true number, veganism is extremely popular in the US and bound to rise.

8. Ireland

Vegan Popularity Score: 62

2017 Ranking: 11th

Ireland’s West Coast, Photo Credit: Liam Moloney

The vegans have landed – reads a 2018 headline in the Irish Times. Lots of vegan shops and restaurants have opened in major cities recently, Dublin in particular. However, according to a local vegan blog Ireland has a long way to go to catch up with vegan Meccas such as Berlin and Tel Aviv.

9. Austria

Vegan Popularity Score: 60

2017 Ranking: 9th

Austrian Alps; Photo Credit: Pedro Szekely

Home to one of the largest vegan festivals in Europe – Veganmania Summer festival, – it’s no surprise that Austria is one of Europe’s leading nations for vegans.

10. Germany

Vegan Popularity Score: 59

2017 Ranking: 8th

Freudenburg, Germany; Photo Credit: Thomas Depenbush

Germany might be world famous for its beer and sausages, but it’s also home to Berlin, one of the world’s most vegan friendly cities. Germany is also the world leader in vegan food development and launches, according a report by Mintel.

Most Popular Cities for Veganism in 2018

1. Bristol

Vegan Popularity Score: 100

European Ranking: 1st

2017 World-wide Ranking: 2nd

Bristol, UK; Photo Credit: Harshil Shah



Move over Berlin and London…Bristol is the new European and world-wide vegan capital. Bristol’s concentration of vegan-related searches on Google surpassed every other city in the world.

While this may come as a surprise to many, the locals know all to well that their city has turned into a vegan Mecca. There are lots of vegan restaurants , cafes, vegan hair and beauty saloons and even an active Bristol vegan community.

2. Portland

Vegan Popularity Score: 92

Americas Ranking: 1st

2017 World-wide Ranking: 1st

Alphabet District in Portland; Photo Credit: Ian Sane



Portland lives up to its hype, as one of the friendliest cities for vegans in America, and ranks at the very top of the most popular vegan cities in the Americas and second in the world.

There is an abundance of restaurants for vegans in Portland, including a mini-mall and, according to Portland Monthly, its vegetarian tradition can be traced back 100 years.

3. Edinburgh

Vegan Popularity Score: 75

European Ranking: 2nd

2017 World-wide ranking: 7th

Edinburgh, Scotland; Photo Credit: Mike McBey



Being named one of UK’s most vegan-friendly cities, Edinburgh is serviced by no less than 160 vegan or vegetarian restaurants according to Happy Cow. Edinburgh has the largest number of vegan restaurants in Scotland and according to a local vegan blog it’s just very easy to be a vegan in Edinburgh.

4. Vancouver

Vegan Popularity Score: 71

Americas Ranking: 2nd

2017 World-wide ranking: 3rd

Vancouver, Canada; Photo Credit: Harshil Shah



Vancouver has long been regarded as one of the most vegetarian-friendly cities in North America and Canada. And veganism continues to thrive in the city – so much so that vegan love has become a stereotype for

Vancouverites. This just proves that not all stereotypes are bad, right?

5. Seattle

Vegan Popularity Score: 70

Americas Ranking: 3rd

2017 World-wide ranking: 6th

Seattle skyline; Photo Credit: Jonathan Miske



Portland, Vancouver, Seattle – Pacific Northwest is incredibly well represented with 3 of the top 5 cities where veganism was the most popular in 2018. Seattle has 200 animal-friendly eateries and was labelled one of the best cities for vegans in America, according to ChooseVeg.

6. Manchester

Vegan Popularity Score: 67

European Ranking: 3rd

2017 World-wide ranking: 12th

Manchester Cathedral; Photo Credit: Ian Roberts



There has never been a better time to be a vegan in Manchester, according the Manchester Evening News. It is after all the birthplace of the Vegetarian Society and has close to 150 vegan or vegetarian restaurants.

7. London

Vegan Popularity Score: 66

European Ranking: 4th

2017 World-wide ranking: 13th

Big Ben, London; Photo Credit: Pedro Szekely



London may be trailing Bristol and Portland, but it was the most popular mega city for veganism in the world in 2018.

Google Trends provides two different city rankings – one table ranks cities with a high number of searches for a given topic (think global capitals and mega cities like New York, Los Angeles and Melbourne) and a second one that also ranks cities with a lower number of searches (think mid-sized cities like Bristol and Vancouver).



London was clearly the most popular mega city for vegans in 2018. But according to Eater, the reason for this surge is that London lagged behind established vegan Meccas like Berlin and Melbourne.

8. Leeds

Vegan Popularity Score: 69

European Ranking: 5th

2017 World-wide ranking: 14th

Leeds, UK; Photo Credit: bvi4092



With one of the best vegan restaurants in the UK and lots of vegan festivals throughout the year, Leeds is quickly establishing itself as one of England’s top vegan-friendly cities. Together with Manchester and London, it’s one of the cities with the highest ranking improvement over 2017 (up 6 positions).

9. Los Angeles

Vegan Popularity Score: 66

Americas Ranking: 4th

2017 World-wide ranking: 4th





Los Angeles; Photo Credit: Kai Lehmann



LA offers a huge variety of vegan food options and was crowned the most vegan-friendly city in the US in 2018. Although Los Angeles has lost a few rankings since 2017, among mega cities it is only second to London as the most popular vegan city in the world. Keep it up Los Angeles!

10. Glasgow

Vegan Popularity Score: 66

European Ranking: 6th

2017 World-wide ranking: 17th





Glasgow City Chambers; Photo Credit: Michael D Beckwith



According to one study, Glasgow has the highest number of vegans in the UK, while Edinburgh comes second. It’s the other way round in our top 20, Edinburgh coming slightly ahead of Glasgow. Glasgow has a thriving vegan scene and improved 7 spots in the world’s vegan popularity index compared to 2017.

11. Melbourne

Vegan Popularity Score: 64

Australia & Pacific Ranking: 1st

2017 World-wide ranking: 5th





Melbourne has long been regarded as one of the world’s top vegan heavens. While it dropped 6 places from 2017, Melbourne retained its crown as Australia’s top vegan city. Rightfully so as the city is the home of the largest vegan store in the world and a load of super vegan restaurants.

12. Adelaide

Vegan Popularity Score: 63

Australia & Pacific Ranking : 2nd

2017 World-wide ranking: 9th





Adelaide from Above; Photo Credit: Fairy Duff



The growing appetite for vegan food in Adelaide is underscored by the surge in attendance at Adelaide’s Vegan Festival. Last year 18,000 people attended the event, up more than twofold compared to 2015. Adelaide has seen an explosion in vegan establishments according to the media so ranking second only to Melbourne in Australia might not come as a big surprise for the locals.

13. San Diego

Vegan Popularity Score: 61

Americas Ranking: 5th

2017 World-wide ranking: 8th





Seaport Village, San Diego; Photo Credit: Prayitno

San Diego got in 2018 its first all-vegan market and continues its great tradition as one of America’s most vegan-friendly cities. There’s an abundance of vegan restaurants, food trucks and shops that will please even the pickiest eaters.

14. Gothenburg

Vegan Popularity Score: 60

European Ranking: 7th

2017 World-wide Ranking: 10th





Gothenburg, Sweden; Photo Credit: Bengt Nyman



Being known as Sweden’s friendliest vegan city, Gothenburg ranks 7th among the most popular European cities for vegans. Pretty much everyone agrees (see here, here, and here) that Gothenburg is an awesome place to be a vegan.

15. Stockholm

Vegan Popularity Score: 59

European Ranking: 15th

2017 World-wide Ranking: 8th

Stockholm’s Old Town; Photo Credit: Lonni Besançon



Stockholm is quickly becoming a vegan paradise with a wealth of vegan restaurants and shops. Happy Cow lists 177 vegan or vegetarian restaurants in the city, which offer plenty of options for locals and tourists alike. See here and here a list of the top vegan restaurants in the city.

16. Berlin

Vegan Popularity Score: 59

European Ranking: 9th

2017 World-wide Ranking: 19th



17. San Francisco

Vegan Popularity Score: 57

Americas Ranking: 6th

2017 World-wide Ranking: 16th



18. Austin

Vegan Popularity Score: 55

Americas Ranking: 7th

2017 World-wide Ranking: 11th



19. Amsterdam

Vegan Popularity Score: 55

European Ranking: 10th

2017 World-wide ranking: 61st



20. Brisbane

Vegan Popularity Score: 55

Australia & Pacific: 3rd

2017 World-wide ranking: 22nd

Related Data

Given the incredible media response to our study (70+ media pick-ups thousands of shares on social media), our analyst have also crunched the data on the most popular cities for vegans in Europe, as well as the 20 most popular countries veganism in Europe.

Check out our coverage in the Guardian, Newsweek, or the Forward. For some amazing vegan recipes check out our white asparagus recipe, grilled capsicum, marinated mushrooms balsamic or our guide to edible flowers.

Credit for featured image goes to Max Kiesler.