The number of vegetarians and vegans in Switzerland has boomed in the last half-decade, new data from Swissveg has revealed. To commemorate World Vegan Day on November 1, the plant-based food advocacy group found that one in 19 people from across the cantons no longer eats meat.

Swiss vegan and vegetarian population small by European comparison

According to their annual survey of 30.000 people, as of 2024 only 2,9 percent of men in Switzerland say they are vegetarian, compared to 6,3 percent of women. What's more, just 0,5 percent of men and 0,9 percent of women identify as vegan. The vegetarian and vegan population is now estimated to number 358.000 people, more than the populations of Basel and Lausanne combined.

The findings put the alpine nation behind the rest of Europe, especially when it comes to veganism - 2023 data from Meticulous Research estimates that 3,2 percent of the continent’s population are vegan. The alpine nation is also lagging behind most of its neighbours, with around 12 percent of Germans, 13 percent of Austrians and 10 percent of Italians following a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Non-meat eating population of Switzerland soars 40 percent in five years

Nevertheless, Swissveg noted that the number of vegans and vegetarians has risen by 40 percent in the last five years, meaning that “one person in 19 in Switzerland no longer eats meat”. They explained that while the number of women eating meat-free has remained stagnant, the number of men has soared.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the younger you are the more likely you are to adopt a non-meat diet. As of 2024, 8,4 percent of people aged 14 to 34 were vegetarians, with 1,3 percent being vegan - women in this age group are the most likely in Switzerland to pursue a non-meat lifestyle. By contrast, just 2,1 percent of over 55s are vegetarian, while 0,2 percent are vegan. 

Generally speaking, vegans and vegetarians were found to have a higher level of education. 54,8 percent of vegetarians and 54,4 percent of vegans have completed higher education, compared to the national average of 39,1 percent.

Climate and animal rights concerns the main drivers of Swiss veganism

The reasons for Swiss residents to forswear meat are diverse, but mainly stem from being climate-conscious and opposed to the maltreatment of livestock. Though there are some cases where the meat-free option is more climate intensive (avocados for example), a study from the PlanetApp found that overall meat-based diets produce 22 percent more greenhouse gases than vegetarian diets, and 37 percent more than vegan.

By contrast, when asked why they keep eating meat, more than half of Swiss respondents said that it was because they enjoyed eating it, while a quarter said they continued to eat meat out of habit.

Vegetarianism in Switzerland: Late but catching up

As with most modern developments, the alpine nation is late to the party but catching up fast. What was once a dearth of options is now a wild diversity of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Switzerland. Though not as extensive as in other countries, Swiss supermarkets are also catching up, releasing new vegan and veggie delights for people to enjoy.

This development is becoming all the more noticeable - 51,5 percent of those surveyed (both meat eaters and not) have eaten meat alternatives before. However, this process is slower in other areas: only 36,1 percent buy milk alternatives, 29,7 percent buy yoghurt alternatives and only 16,9 percent buy plant-based alternatives to Swiss cheese.

Thumb image credit: 319photo / Shutterstock.com