Estonia Keeps It Local: 7 Out of 10 Bites of Meat Are Homegrown

Meat on the Menu: Mostly Estonian

In 2024, Estonia produced 76,500 tonnes of meat—enough to cover 71% of everything the country ate.

On average, each person in Estonia consumed 78 kg of meat last year. That breaks down to about 56 kg produced in Estonia and the rest imported.

Pork Reigns Supreme

The clear favorite? Pork.

• 42.4 kg per person

• 13% more than the year before

• Makes up more than half of all meat eaten

Estonia produced over 42,000 tonnes of pork, which helped boost overall meat production by 1%, even though beef and poultry dipped a bit.

Quick Stats Snapshot:

• Poultry: 27.2 kg per person (down 3% in production)

• Beef: 7.9 kg per person (down 5% in production)

• Sheep & Goat: under 0.5 kg per person

Livestock at year-end:

• 2.4 million poultry

• 283,600 pigs

• 232,400 cattle (lowest ever)

• 49,300 sheep and goats

Imports & Exports: A Balancing Act

Estonia imported 75,500 tonnes of meat (including meat in products) and exported 44,300 tonnes. But when all was said and done, locals ate 107,600 tonnes of meat in total.

Here’s how self-sufficient Estonia is by meat type:

• Beef: 109% (yep, more than enough)

• Pork: 72%

• Poultry: 58%

• Sheep & Goat: 80%

Bottom Line:
Estonia still loves pork, and local farms are holding their ground—even as cattle numbers dip. With 71% of the meat on plates coming from inside the country, Estonia’s meat story is one of self-sufficiency and local pride.

Source: https://bnn-news.com/estonia-produces-71-of-the-meat-consumed-in-the-country-266818