Best countries for vegans: what the surveys and food traditions show

Why vegan figures are small and hard to compare

The Vegan Society describes veganism as a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. In dietary terms it means dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals. Wikipedia adds that veganism is a minority everywhere, at about 2 percent in many developed Western countries.

Surveys count it differently. Wikipedia's table of vegetarianism by country says that definitions and survey methods vary and may measure self-identification, dietary behaviour or both, so figures are not necessarily directly comparable. The table below should therefore be read as a rough picture of visibility, with the survey year attached.

Self-reported vegan shares in 14 countries

The table lists the vegan share for each country in Wikipedia's collation of published surveys, with the survey year. We included countries where a vegan figure was listed and left out those where it was not. The figures come from different surveys, so a gap of a point or two between countries should not be over-read.

India and Mexico stand out at around 9 percent, followed by Brazil at 7 percent and Israel at 5 percent. The western European countries in the table, apart from Sweden at 4 percent, sit between 0.7 and 2.3 percent. These are shares of the resident population, not measures of how many vegan dishes a visitor will find.

India: a vegetarian mark is not a vegan mark

India is one of two countries at about 9 percent vegan in the table. Wikipedia describes India's food marks: a green dot in a green-outlined square for vegetarian products, and a red triangle in a red-outlined square for products containing animal-based ingredients. The article is explicit that products such as honey, milk or their direct derivatives are categorised under the green mark.

For a vegan, that means a green mark does not make a product vegan, because it covers dairy and honey. Wikipedia also notes that pure vegetarian restaurants avoid indirect animal ingredients such as rennet and collagen.

Vegetarianism varies sharply by region within India: the same article lists a 2018 survey with Rajasthan at 74.9 percent and West Bengal at 1.4 percent. Browse apartment-style stays in Bengaluru or see the India hub for other cities.

Ethiopia: fasting food that is vegan by rule

Wikipedia's entry on Ethiopian cuisine says that, under Oriental Orthodox tradition, the faithful may not consume any kind of animal products, including dairy and eggs, during fasts. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's fasts include every Wednesday and Friday and the whole Lenten season, plus fifteen days outside Lent. During those fasts the food is therefore vegan.

The article describes vegan versions of wat that use vegetable oil in place of niter kibbeh and substitute vegetables or legumes for meat, served on injera, the fermented teff flatbread. It adds that doro wat is one of the most popular dishes for breaking religious fasts in Ethiopia, so it appears at the end of fasting rather than during it.

This is the clearest example in our sources of a vegan tradition that comes from a food rule rather than a market trend. The cautions are practical: the dishes are designed around fasting days, so ask what is on the menu on non-fasting days, and ask about the oil or fat used. See Addis Ababa and the Ethiopia hub for stays.

East Asia: temple cooking, eggs and the dashi trap

Wikipedia says Buddhist cuisine is vegetarian or vegan and based on the concept of ahimsa, or non-violence. It says Mahayana monastic communities in Chinese, Vietnamese and most Korean Buddhism strictly follow vegetarianism, and that Mahayana monastics in China, Korea, Vietnam and Japan avoid five strong-smelling plants, including garlic, known as wǔ hūn. The same article says that traditionally, eggs are not considered vegetarian, which is helpful for vegans, but practice varies, so ask.

Japan has a specific trap. Wikipedia describes dashi, a Japanese stock, as made from kombu and katsuobushi, preserved, fermented skipjack tuna, with dried anchovies or sardines as alternatives. Kombu and shiitake versions contain no fish. Wikipedia's shōjin ryōri entry says vegan dashi figures strongly in Japanese monastery food, that the cuisine is commonly offered at temples, notably in Kyoto, and that commercial restaurants have also taken up the style.

The lesson is that a dish that looks vegetable-only in Japan may be seasoned with fish stock, and Wikipedia says instant dashi has largely replaced the homemade product. Ask about the stock. For stays, see Kyoto.

Labels and allergen rules: what they tell you and what they do not

Regulation can help, but not as much as people assume. The European Commission says its food information rules provide for clearer, harmonised presentation of allergens on prepacked food and mandatory allergen information for non-prepacked food, including in restaurants and cafes. It adds that voluntary food information must not mislead the consumer. Allergen information is not vegan labelling, though: it tells you which listed allergens are present, not whether a product is made without animals.

In the United Kingdom, the government publishes guidance for food businesses on providing allergen information and best practice for handling allergens. Wikipedia says the Vegan Society's sunflower logo and PETA's bunny logo mean a product is certified vegan, and that the Vegan Society's criteria require no animal products and no animal testing by or on behalf of the manufacturer.

In practice, read ingredient lists, ask about stocks, butter, honey and eggs in baked goods, and treat a vegetarian label with care in countries where it permits dairy or honey, as India's green mark does.

• Ask about stock and broth: fish stock is common in East Asian soups.
• Ask about fat: ghee, butter and animal fat are used in many traditional dishes.
• Check baked goods, sauces and spreads for egg, milk and honey.
• Do not read a vegetarian mark as a vegan mark.

Cooking for yourself: when an apartment kitchen is the answer

Where eating out is uncertain, a kitchen lets you decide what goes in the pan. The practical limits are the usual ones for any rented kitchen: check what equipment is supplied, and bring staples you rely on. Our guide to what is included in a serviced apartment and the long-stay accommodation checklist list what to ask about.

Israel's 2015 survey shows 5 percent vegan nationally; for a city base, see Tel Aviv and the Tel Aviv stays with a kitchen page. In Germany, where 2 percent said they were vegan, Berlin has apartment-style stays too. If gluten is also a concern, see best countries for gluten-free travel and best countries for vegetarians.