Pizza is many people’s favorite food, and wherever you go, you’ll be able to either order it or make it yourself. Although originally a quite simple dish, pizza can be made with many ingredients (and some are pretty unusual).
Additionally, numerous pizza consumption statistics reveal that the US actually isn’t the country where it’s eaten the most.
If you want to know more about consumer demographics, how many people consume it, when, and some negative effects of consuming pizza, read on.
We’ve gathered statistics about pizza consumption, ranging from how much pizza the average American eats over their lifetime to what percentage of people prefer pineapple on their pizza. If there was ever a time to really commit yourself to learn as much as possible about something, this is it!
Top Pizza Consumption Statistics (Editor’s Pick)
Pizza is not just a meal, it’s an experience.
That’s why we gathered up the best pizza-eating statistics out there, so you can see just how much pizzas are enjoyed—and how they’re enjoyed—by people around the world.
- Each person in Norway eats roughly 11 pounds of pizza per year.
- In the UK, an average person consumed approximately 88 grams of pizza per week in 2019 and 2020.
- 98% of Americans eat pizza, while 54% claim they love it.
- A pizza has 250 to 350 calories per slice, and half of those come from fat.
- Teenagers can gain nearly 20 extra pounds from age 12 to 19 because of pizza.
- Only 12% of people from the US say that pineapple is their favorite pizza topping.
- Almost three-quarters of Americans would eat pizza more if it was healthier.
- Men are more likely than women to order pizza but it is the most frequently ordered entrée among both genders.
Statistics About Pizza Consumption in the US
1. Around 350 slices of pizza are eaten in the United States every second.
(Signal Station Pizza)
The US is in second place when pizza consumption is in question. More specifically, Americans eat about 350 slices of pizza every second. Still, as there are so many fast food options, pizza isn’t considered the most popular choice.
2. 98% of Americans eat pizza.
(Eat Caulipower)
According to pizza statistics based on a survey from 2019, a staggering 98% of Americans eat pizza, while 54% claim they love it. In fact, Americans love pizza so much that 33 million admit that they would choose it to be their last meal ever.
3. People from Connecticut love pizza the most.
(Zippia)
Pizza is widely popular in all American states. Still, some states seem to like it a bit more. As pizza consumption statistics from 2020 reveal, people from Connecticut love pizza the most. On the contrary, those who live in Hawaii like pizza the least.
4. In 2020, 83.63 million American survey respondents ate Digiorno frozen pizza within the last 30 days before being surveyed.
(Statista)
According to Statista’s data based on the Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS) and US Census data, Digiorno was the most popular brand among American pizza lovers.
Also, it’s essential to add that frozen pizza sales amounted to about $5.47 million in 2020 and $6.06 million in 2021.
5. 64% of Americans say that they like pepperoni topping, making it the favorite pizza topping in the US.
(YouGov)
Statistics on pizza toppings based on a YouGov survey point out that pepperoni is by far the most popular pizza topping in the US. Right after pepperoni comes sausage, as 56% of survey respondents said they liked it.
Only 2% said they prefer pizza with no toppings at all. Conversely, Anchovies are the most disliked topping in the US (61% of respondents dislike it).
6. In 2020, Americans spent roughly $14 billion on pizza delivery.
(Statista)
Statista’s pizza sales statistics show that spending on pizza delivery in the US reached roughly $14 billion in 2020. Moreover, the pizza industry reported the most significant year-on-year growth during recent years, as it increased by around $3 billion between 2019 and 2020.
7. In 2020, 55.9% of pizza restaurants in the US reported lower sales during the pandemic.
(Statista)
Even though most pizza restaurants heavily relied on takeout and food delivery during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, they still suffered the consequences of the crisis.
While nearly 60% of pizza restaurants have seen a decrease in sales, only 25.92% reported the opposite. Also, some pizza restaurants reported no change in sales.
World Pizza Consumption Statistics
8. Each person in Norway eats approximately 11 pounds of pizza per year.
(Pequod’s Pizza)
According to the statistics regarding pizza consumption by country, Norwegians are big fans of pizza and consume it the most. In addition, it’s even possible to try a pizza topped with kebabs in Norway. Other interesting toppings that can be found in their restaurants are french fries and bearnaise sauce.
9. Norwegians consume around 47 million frozen pizzas annually.
(The Daily Meal)
People from Norway rather make pizzas on their own than go to a restaurant and pizza statistics show that they consume 47 million frozen pizzas per year.
Also, as 50% of the frozen pizzas consumed in Norway are Grandiosa pizzas, 20% of the population consider it an unofficial national dish. Apart from that, Grandiosa annually sells over 9 million Classic pizzas with Jarlsberg cheese, tomato sauce, paprika, and ham.
10. For 37% of Swedish people, Friday is the ideal day for eating pizza.
(Statista)
It’s no wonder that most people from Sweden find Friday the best day for eating pizza. The second most ideal day for pizza is Sunday, according to 20% of Swedish survey respondents. On the contrary, only 3% agree that Tuesday is the best day for pizza.
11. On average, people in the UK eat 88 grams of pizza per week.
(Statista)
Statista’s pizza stats reveal that an average person in the UK consumed 26 grams from takeaway pizzas and 62 grams from frozen or not frozen pizzas in 2019 and 2020.
It’s also worth mentioning that an average Brit weekly consumed around 15 grams of pizza out of home in 2018 and 2019.
12. In Germany, 377.426 thousand tons of frozen pizza were sold in 2020.
(Pequod’s Pizza)
Germany is in fourth place for global pizza consumption. Both Americanized pizzas and Flammkuchen (a distinctive pizza from the Alsace region of France and southern Germany) are popular in this country.
As data suggests, there was an increase in frozen pizza sales in 2020 compared to the previous year when roughly 363 thousand tons were sold.
Pizza Consumption Stats Regarding Nutritional Value and Health Risks
13. A pizza has between 250 and 350 calories per slice, half of which are from fat.
(Brooklyn Craft Pizza)
A slice of pizza can even have 400 calories depending on toppings. For instance, a plain cheese-only pizza has around 220 calories per slice, which isn’t a lot. However, eating pizza too often can easily lead to obesity and other health issues because it contains a lot of sugar and sodium.
14. On pizza-eating days, teens consume 230 calories more than on other days
(Reuters)
We know the struggle is real. We get it. It’s Friday night and you’re trying to decide what’s for dinner. You’ve got options: pizza or something else. And you’re thinking, “Is it really a bad thing if we get pizza again?”
The answer is… yes, it kind of is.
Pizza doesn’t just make you fat, it makes you unhealthy.
A recent study found that children and adolescents eat almost five pounds more of pizza every year than they should. That translates to a whopping 30 extra pounds by the time they hit 19 years old.
But the damage doesn’t stop there.
Pizza consumption statistics by age suggest that teenagers ate 484 milligrams more salt and five grams more saturated fat on pizza-eating days—enough to cause major nutritional problems, meaning that it’s not about eating too much pizza. Eating pizza, in general, isn’t healthy as it has no nutritional value, although some of its toppings do.
15. It’s best to limit pizza consumption to up to 2-3 times per month.
(Healthline)
While it’s okay to eat a piece of frozen, fast-food, or pizzeria-style pizza from time to time, especially if you make it yourself and know what it contains.
One of the pizza consumption facts that’s good to know is that a pizza with whole ingredients, a homemade pizza crust, and nutritious toppings is considered healthy.
If you really want to eat a healthy pizza, opt for more veggies and sauce with no sugar, avoid processed meats, and cut smaller slices.
16. Almost three-quarters of Americans would eat pizza more if it was healthier.
(Eat Caulipower)
It’s logical that people would eat more pizza if it was healthier. However, we all have our own definitions of healthy. For example, most survey respondents (69%) claim healthier pizza has 50% fewer calories, while 45% consider a pizza rich in nutrients a better choice.
17. 45% of Americans who want to eat healthier or lose weight would completely stop eating pizza.
(Eat Caulipower)
Pizza consumption statistics based on research from 2019 point out that 26% of Americans who try to lose weight and eat more nutritious food agree that pizza is a bad food choice.
Furthermore, even if some people aren’t ready to cut off pizza from their diet completely, 84% would at least rethink having pizza in their life.
Other Interesting and Noteworthy Pizza Consumption Statistics
18. 63% of Americans would give up extraordinary experiences and things to eat unlimited amounts of pizza without feeling guilty.
(Eat Caulipower)
Some people would go as far as not touching their smartphone for a month to eat pizza as much as they want without guilt or regret. In fact, 17% of people from the US would do so. Apart from that, 37% would have a one-year-long social media detox in exchange for pizza.
19. Only 12% of Americans claim that pineapple is their favorite pizza topping.
(YouGov)
The rate of consumption of pineapple pizza is still relatively low, as 24% of survey respondents claim it’s their least favorite pizza topping. Nevertheless, 17% of people who live in the western US say pineapple is one of their favorite pizza toppings.
20. Pizza is the most frequently ordered entrée and represents 16% of orders by men.
(GrubHub)
Ever wondered who’s more likely to order a pizza: men or women?
While it might seem like it’s just as likely for either gender to get that cheesy, doughy goodness, a study of the pizza-ordering population tells a different story. As pizza consumption demographics suggest, men are slightly more likely to order pizza than women.
Also, it’s interesting to note that men and women have different preferences. For instance, buffalo chicken pizza is over 46% more commonly ordered by men, while women are 78% more likely to order Caprese.
Related Questions
How much pizza is consumed in a year?
Globally, over five million pizzas are sold every year, while an average American consumes 40 pizzas annually. However, people from different countries have specific tastes. For instance, Norwegians are more likely to make pizzas at home, as they consume around 47 million frozen pizzas annually.
How much pizza is consumed in the US per day?
People in the US eat 350 slices of pizza per second, which amounts to roughly 30 million each day. Americans love Italian cuisine, and it’s one of their favorites. Most of them like thin crust, and pepperoni is by far the most popular pizza topping in the US. According to a YouGov survey, 64% of Americans prefer this topping.
Who consumes the most pizza?
According to the USDA statistics, children and teens are most likely to eat pizza. Namely, 26% of male American children aged 12 to 19 consume pizza on any given day, while 18% of female children do the same. On the contrary, only 6% of men and 5% of women aged 60 and above consume pizza on a daily basis.
What city eats the most pizza?
San Francisco is the city where pizza is consumed the most when the US is in question. The preferred pizza of choice for the residents of San Francisco is Margarita pizza. Apart from San Francisco, pizza is widely consumed in Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, and Chicago.
Which country likes pizza the most?
If we take all types of pizza into consideration, Norwegians seem to like it the most. After Norway comes the US, as around 13% of Americans eat pizza in some form each day. Some other countries that eat pizza a lot are the UK, Germany, and Italy.
Conclusion
As we can conclude, pizza consumption is a daily activity for many people. However, it’s interesting that male and female preferences are quite different when pizza is in question.
People love pizza because it’s a simple combination of flour, water, yeast, tomatoes, cheese, and oil that can be infinitely customized with toppings and sauces. It’s not just a tradition—it’s an art form.
All in all, pizza is a dish that will be a food trend even in the years to come (because the statistics don’t lie).
The only thing people should keep in mind is that, although delicious, pizza isn’t healthy and should be eaten in moderation. Therefore, it’s suitable to limit pizza intake to a few times a month.
We hope you enjoyed this pizza-packed journey and learned a few things along the way. If you’re feeling brave, share some of your favorite stats on Twitter (and tag us @Soocial)—we love hearing from our community!
Remember to stay tuned for more blog posts like this one, where we’ll dive deep into food consumption statistics, so you can satisfy your craving for knowledge as well as your hunger for pizza. Till next time!
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