New data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows per-capita dairy consumption at near historic highs in the United States in 2024.
In the past decade, domestic per capita consumption of cheese– including cottage cheese– is up 13% and butter consumption is up 21%. In the past 20 years, yogurt consumption has grown 58%.
Per person consumption of specific dairy categories in 2024:
-
Butter consumption reached a new, all-time high of 6.8 pounds.
-
Yogurt consumption increased to 14.5 pounds, a 6% increase from 2023.
-
Total cheese consumption was unchanged at 41.9 pounds, after hitting a record high in 2023.
-
Consumption of cottage cheese rose to 2.4 pounds, the highest level since 2009.
-
Regular ice cream consumption reached 12 pounds.
-
Milk consumption saw a modest decline to 127 pounds.
Overall, USDA data shows Americans’ per capita consumption of dairy is up 0.6% over the past five years, 8% over the past 15 years, and 12% over the past 30 years. USDA’s Economic Research Service reports that on a milk-equivalent, milk-fat basis, Americans consumed 651 pounds of dairy per person in 2024– a level that nears historic records dating back to 1975 when USDA began tracking dairy consumption trends.
Comments