Best vegan-friendly countries in the world in 2022 (2024)

Veganism is defined as a way of life that seeks to eliminate all forms of animal exploitation and atrocities, whether for food, clothing or other purposes. For these reasons, a vegan diet eliminates all animal foods, including meat, eggs and dairy products.

The growing trend of veganism

The vegan movement has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years across the world. More and more people, especially teenagers and celebrities, support the vegan lifestyle. Many vegan communities promote the benefits of plant-based products on social media channels to raise awareness of veganism.

With a steep rise in the number of vegans across the globe, most countries have adopted this new lifestyle and are even promoting it through various methods. With animal rights as a central focus bolstered by benefits of health and environment, more and more restaurants are opening up in different countries, promoting new vegan cuisines.

The Countries

INDIA

Undoubtedly the vegetarian capital of the world, the urban Indian population is quickly accepting veganism as a way of life. A lot of traditional cuisines already have many vegan dishes which are eaten by everyone. Vegan food is easily available in western and south Indian restaurants too. In fact, India also has a large number of fully vegetarian restaurants, a trend that is not seen anywhere else in the world. Most vegan-friendly cities are Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.

United States of America (USA):

According to a study, the number of people transitioning to veganism has increased by 600% in the United States alone over the past three years. There are more than 30,000 vegan restaurants in the country, serving all kinds of food you can dream of. America's most vegan-friendly cities are Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Austin, and New York.

United Kingdom (UK):

UK is home to Donald Watson who coined the term "Vegan" in 1944 and started the world's first vegan society "The Vegan Society". Last year alone, demand for vegan food in the UK increased by more than 1000%. London has always been a hotspot for vegan food in the UK, but over the past year, several other cities have also declared themselves vegan-friendly.

Poland:

There are more than 950 vegan restaurants in Poland. In the capital, vegan burgers are considered to be one of the best burgers in the world. Poland's most vegan-friendly cities are Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, and Rod.

THAILAND:

This country has huge markets that promote sparkling fruits & vegetables. Currently, there are over 1500 vegan eating places in Thailand. Most vegan-friendly towns in Thailand are Bangkok, Chiang Mai, phu*ket and Koh Samui.

Taiwan:

At least 33% of the population is Buddhist, which explains the increasing vegan and vegetarian lifestyle, especially among young people. Taiwan's most vegan-friendly cities are New Taipei City, Taichung, and Kaohsiung.

Germany:

Berlin, in particular, has been repeatedly regarded as one of the most liveable cities for vegans in recent years. The best thing about the German vegan scene is that you have access to all kinds of vegan dishes cooked in different kitchen styles. The most vegan-friendly cities in Germany are Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Bavaria.

Israel:

This country’s capital city, Tel Aviv, is titled the “vegan capital of the world”. Apart from Tel Aviv, you'll find vegan alternatives and markets in lots of different small towns of Israel serving superb vegan fare. You can pick out from 700+ vegan eating places in Israel, currently. Most vegan-pleasant cities in Israel are Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Kibbutzim.

Australia:

According to the latest study by PETA, Australia is the third biggest developing vegan nation in the world as of now. Therefore, currently, there are over 5000 vegan eating places throughout Australia. Most vegan-pleasant towns in Australia are Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.

Canada:

Most of the people who converted to veganism and vegetarianism in Canada over the last two years were under the age of 35. This has led to a massive increase in international vegan restaurant franchises expanding in the country. Canada currently has more than 4000 vegan restaurants, making it a vegan paradise. The most vegan-friendly cities in Canada are British Columbia, Ontario, Montreal and Vancouver.

As the plant-based and vegan movements grow, so does the competition to become vegan-friendly between countries, cities, and governments. Hence, veganism is a growing trend and will continue to grow over the years.