If you’re looking for the latest statistics on bagel consumption, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a list of statistics that will help you understand how many people around the world are eating bagels, why they’re eating bagels, and what kind of bagels they’re consuming.
You love bagels. We know you do. They’re delicious and you eat them all the time, but have you ever wondered how many other people eat bagels? Well, we have! And we’ve done the hard work for you.
We know how hard it can be to find relevant statistics on bagel consumption—it’s not like there’s a lot of information out there. That’s why we created this list: to give you all the data you need in one place so that you can make informed decisions about where to eat next time your stomach starts growling.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur or just someone who loves to eat bagels, this list is sure to benefit you in some way!
Top Bagel Consumption Statistics (Editor’s Choice)
- It’s estimated that 205.34 million Americans will consume bagels in 2024.
- The total U.S. sales of bagels in grocery stores in 2021 was $1.54 billion.
- The market size of the bagel stores in the US in 2022 amounts to $1.4 billion.
- In the US, around two to ten million bagels are sold every day.
- Blueberry bagels are the most popular variety in the US.
- New York, New Jersey, and Colarado are the top bagel-consuming states in the US.
- In the last 20 years, the amount of calories in bagels has more than doubled.
General Bagel Consumption Statistics
1. The average price of a bagel stands at $5.3.
(Tastewise)
Of course, the price of a bagel varies in restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores. Still, Tastewise’s data reveals that the average cost of a bagel is $5.3, but it can be as high as $10.68.
It’s possible to find even more expensive bagels, such as dozen bagels (one dozen bagels costs approximately $7 to $15).
Dunkin Donuts prices its bagels at $9.99, while you can buy one at Einstein Bagels for $14.65.
2. It’s estimated that 205.34 million people in the US will consume bagels in 2024.
(Statista)
As the statistics from Statista’s report about bagel consumption in the US based on the US Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey indicate, more than 200 million people consume bagels every year (at least it has been like that since 2015).
The report reveals that 202.07 million people ate bagels in 2020, while it’s predicted that 205.34 million people will consume bagels in 2024.
Also, the highest number of Americans (208.15 million) that consumed bagels was recorded in 2018.
3. In the US 18.77 million people ate frozen bagels in 2020.
(Statista, IRI)
It appears that frozen bagels aren’t that popular as compared to fresh ones, at least among Americans.
In addition, the number of people in the US who eat frozen bagels has started decreasing since 2017. Namely, the number of people eating frozen bagels was 21 to 23 million between 2011 and 2017, dropping to below 20 million in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
| Year | Frozen Bagel Sales in US |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $36.4 million |
| 2020 | $38.155 million |
| 2019 | $33.36 million |
4. 125.44 million Americans didn’t consume bagels in 2020.
(Stsatista, Healthline)
Statista’s bagel statistics based on the US Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey reveal that 125.44 million didn’t consume bagels at all in 2020.
The reason for that might be bagels’ negative reputation as they contain a lot of calories and are high in refined carbs.
5. The fastest-rising bagel pairings are latte and tea.
(Tastewise)
Bagels can be paired with almost anything, from sour cream, salmon, and cream cheese, to chocolate or berries. While latte and tea are the fastest-rising bagel pairings, coffee is still the most popular bagel pairing. After coffee comes tea, latte, fruit juice, and smoothie.
It’s worth mentioning that some of the trending ingredients paired with bagels are french feta, pastured egg, garlic scapes, and cress.
6. 4.24% of people eat bagels for weight loss.
(Tastewise)
Truth be told, it’s a bit unusual to eat bagels for weight loss. Yet, 4.24% of people claim that’s the reason they choose to eat bagels over all other dishes.
Tastewise’s comprehensive report also reveals that, apart from weight loss, 4.33% of people consume bagels for fitness reasons, while 6.62% see bagels as snacks.
7. Blueberry is the most popular flavor of bagels in the US.
(Grubhub)
It’s no wonder that blueberry is the most popular bagel flavor in the US. This delicious berry pairs perfectly with bagels’ characteristic flavor and chewy texture.
It’s also an antioxidant-rich food, which makes it a healthy choice for breakfast or brunch. So the next time you’re looking for a delicious and nutritious snack, try a bagel with blueberry flavoring!
Other popular flavors include:
- Cinnamon raisin
- Everything
- Asiago
- Rainbow
8. New York has the most bagel consumption compared to any other state in the US.
(IRI)
For those of us living in the United States, it’s no surprise that the three states that embrace them the most are New York, New Jersey, and Colorado.
New York has a trailblazing sense of love for bagels. There’s not even a close second.
But each of these states has a variety of bagel shops, as well as bakeries that make traditional Milton, eggnog or poppy seed bagels. All three states also have a wide variety of toppings that can be added to a bagel: cream cheese, smoked salmon, vegetables, and nuts.
Whether you’re in the mood for a plain bagel with olive oil or something more sophisticated like an avocados toast with bacon and eggs, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in one of these states.
Bagel Shop Statistics and Sales
9. Grupo Bimbo, the US’s leading bagel and bialy brand, had 227.74 million unit sales in 2021.
(Statista)
As Statista’s report points out, five leading bagel and bialy brands in the US sold 347.03 million units last year.
Those brands include Grupo Bimbo, Private label (with 81.14 million unit sales), Flowers Foods Bakeries LLC (with 21.02 million unit sales), United States Bakery (with 12.59 million unit sales), and Campbell Soup Co (with 4.54 million unit sales).
10. The total U.S. sales of bagels in grocery stores in 2021 was $1.54 billion.
(IRI)
The popularity of bagels is continuing to grow, with more people looking for alternatives to traditional bread.
In addition, many grocery stores are stocking more branded versions of bagels that are designed to be healthy and tasty.
| Top Bagel Brands in US | Sales in 2021 | Sales in 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas | $766.14 million | $740.64 million |
| Pepperidge Farm | $25.72 million | $20.52 million |
| Ace Bakery | $3.05 million | $0.55 million |
| Aunt Millie’s | $5.65 million | $3.45 million |
11. The market size of the US bagel stores in 2022 amounts to $1.4 billion.
(IBIS World)
The bagel store market size is measured by the industry revenue and is worth $1.4 billion in 2022. Furthermore, it’s expected to increase by 3.8% this year.
Although the Bagel industry growth has been slower than the economy’s overall growth over the last five years, the future of this industry seems bright.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that coffee consumption is directly related to the bagel stores industry, as people often buy bagels with coffee.
(Statista)
Bagel shop statistics suggest that bagels are the third most important product in the bakeries of US grocery stores, after fresh bread, which makes up 43.8% of the share of fresh bakery products, and rolls, with 39.7%.
Nevertheless, even though bagels hold only 14.8%, they’re still more popular than tortillas (0.8%), pretzels (0.7%), and flatbreads (0.1%).
13. Around two to ten million bagels are sold in the US every day.
(Business Insider)
Bagels are an incredibly popular breakfast option in the US, and this statistic proves it. It’s a perfect replacement for bread, as it has a different texture and is generally tastier than plain bread.
Moreover, bagels have even become the foundations of some pizza crusts.
Bagel Consumption Statistics Regarding Health and Diet
14. There are roughly 3.15 slices of bread in one bagel in terms of carbs and calories.
(Business Insider)
Even though bagels look as caloric as bread, that’s far from true. Bagels are much denser than bread, which explains their chewy texture. Still, you should be careful when eating bagels, as they contain a shocking 48 grams of carbohydrates per bagel.
While a bagel has 245 calories, a slice of bread contains 79 calories.
15. A plain bagel contains a shocking 443 milligrams of sodium.
(FitDay)
Believe it or not, doughnuts are healthier than bagels as a breakfast option even though bagel ingredients are generally more nutritious and bagels are not deep-fried.
The main reason it’s better to eat a donut for breakfast rather than a bagel is because of the high carbohydrate and sodium content in bagels.
As one plain bagel has 443 milligrams of sodium, eating only a few can lead to consuming way over the daily intake recommendations.
16. The defatted soy flour comprises up to 3% of a bagel’s total ingredients.
(Baking Business)
The defatted soy flour comprises up to 3% of a bagel’s total ingredients. Therefore, if you’re worried about the amount of soy in a bagel, you can relax. Most bagels don’t contain soy in any form, and even if they do, it’s very little. Even eggs are an optional ingredient.
17. Eat only bagel once per week to stay healthy.
(Food Network, Eating Well)
People should eat bagels only one day per week and consider eating the light version that contains up to 50% fewer calories.
One medium plain bagel contains 9 g of sugar, 1.5 g of fiber, 1.5 g of fat, and 11g of protein. That doesn’t seem bad until you realize that bagels are made of refined or enriched flour. Therefore, try to make the best of your bagel by pairing it with healthy toppings.
Unhealthy weight gain is inevitable if you eat bagels too frequently.
18. Eating bagels regularly increases the chances of developing chronic health conditions.
(NIH, Eat This)
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, bagels are much more caloric than before. More precisely, bagels have over 50% more calories than they used to, mainly because they’re much bigger now.
The same bagel statistics and facts further reveal that consuming too many refined carbs can trigger inflammation, leading to obesity.
Other Noteworthy Bagel Consumption Statistics
19. Bagels are present in only 0.1% of recipes.
(Tastewise)
While it’s true that bagels go with just anything, they’re a rare ingredient in recipes. Even if they’re very similar to bread, people avoid consuming bagels as ingredients and would rather eat them with toppings or raw.
20. Bagels can last between two and seven days at room temperature if they’re stored in a bread bag.
(Home Body Eats)
Although it’s best to eat bagels after up to four days, they can last up to seven days. That means you shouldn’t waste bagels and throw them away if you can’t eat them.
Of course, you can freeze a bagel and make it last four to six months. However, never refrigerate bagels, as storing in the fridge actually promotes its staling.
21. 63% of people in the US slice their bagels horizontally, splitting the top from the bottom.
(YouGov)
Bagel consumption statistics from a YouGov study of 4,269 US adults revealed that 63% of respondents slice their bagels horizontally, while only 6% slice them vertically, splitting them into two U shapes.
The survey also pointed out some unique ways of splitting bagels. For instance, 5% of respondents split them into quarters, while 2% slice them the way they would slice a loaf of bread, cutting them into multiple slices vertically.
22. The first bagel machine could make 400 bagels per hour.
(Culture)
Interestingly, bagels originate from Poland and their creator’s name is Hersz (or Harry) Lender. His three sons and Daniel Thompson patented the first bagel machine in the 1960s that could make 400 bagels per hour.
Still, the power of good marketing actually turned the local business into a vast industrial bagel production company, not the bagel-making machine.
Related Questions (FAQ)
How big is the largest bagel ever made?
The largest bagel ever made was by Bruegger’s Bagels in the US in 2004. It weighed a shocking 393.7 kg or 868 lb and was displayed at the New York state fair .
How many bagels are consumed each year?
The five leading bagel and bialy brands in the US sold 347.03 million units in 2021. Those brands include Grupo Bimbo, Private label, Flowers Foods Bakeries LLC, United States Bakery, and Campbell Soup Co.
How popular are bagels?
If we look at the stats, we’ll see that around 200 million people in the US eat bagels, meaning that bagels are as popular as before. Also, it’s predicted that 205.34 million Americans will consume bagels in 2024.
How long do bagels last?
Bagels typically last between two and seven days at room temperature if they’re stored in a bread bag. Still, you might need to reheat them since it’s best to eat them after up to four days. On the other hand, if you freeze them, they can last for four to six months.
How many people eat bagels for breakfast?
As bagel consumption statistics point out, 61% of Americans (197.7 million) eat bagels at least twice weekly for breakfast. Furthermore, 77% of the time, they’re the central part of their breakfast. They go along with a topping of some kind and a beverage.
Conclusion
So what can we take away from this? From popularity rankings to flavor preferences, it was fascinating to see how the data all pointed in one direction: bagels are loved by many!
Not only that but research indicates there are a variety of interesting trends about bagel consumption. We’ve learned about the demographics of bagel eaters and how much they love them, as well as some fascinating statistics about how often bagels get eaten per person.
Hopefully this article has helped broaden your understanding of the breakfast staple and given you some new ideas for what to put in a giant batch for your next breakfast gathering.
As always, if you have any questions about anything covered in this post or about the data itself, please let us know.
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