How many animals does one vegan save a year?

January 2, 2026 •

3 min read

According to research from Animal Charity Evaluators, an individual adopting a plant-based diet can spare the lives of around 105 vertebrates per year. This often-cited figure provides a tangible answer to the question, "how many animals does one vegan save a year?" and highlights the significant cumulative impact of individual dietary choices.

Quick Summary

The number of animals a single vegan saves annually is a complex figure, with estimates ranging from 100 to over 300, depending on consumption patterns and which animals are counted. Key factors include the high number of fish and small animals consumed globally, land animals, and indirect casualties from farming practices.

Key Points

105 Vertebrates Annually: A single vegan saves approximately 105 vertebrate animals each year, according to a prominent study by Animal Charity Evaluators.
Mostly Aquatic Animals: The majority of animals saved—around 93—are fish and other aquatic creatures, reflecting the high rate of consumption in that category.
Indirect Casualties Count: The 105 figure is an underestimate and does not fully account for animals that die indirectly due to habitat destruction and pesticide use for animal feed.
Reduced Environmental Impact: Choosing a plant-based diet also significantly lowers an individual's carbon footprint, water usage, and land use compared to an omnivorous diet.
Shift in Market Demand: The cumulative effect of many individuals adopting a vegan diet leads to a reduced market demand for animal products, which can ultimately decrease the scale of factory farming.
Beyond the Numbers: The core ethical principle for many vegans is minimizing suffering, a motivation that extends beyond the quantifiable number of animals saved.

Understanding the Numbers: The Individual's Annual Impact

Calculating how many animals one vegan saves a year isn't straightforward and depends on several factors, including the average omnivore's diet and the specific methodology used for counting. While some studies suggest a conservative number, others provide much higher estimates when including aquatic animals and indirect deaths. A commonly referenced study by Animal Charity Evaluators found that the average individual saves around 105 vertebrates each year by adopting a plant-based diet. The discrepancy in figures arises from what is included in the count, such as fish and shellfish, which are killed in far greater numbers than land animals.

The Breakdown of Animals Saved

An annual figure of 105 vertebrates per vegan may seem modest at first, but the composition of that number reveals a critical detail about global consumption patterns. The vast majority of animals slaughtered for food are fish, and this is reflected in the breakdown of saved lives:

93 aquatic animals: This category, based on FAO data, includes farmed and wild-caught fish and other marine creatures. The sheer scale of fishing operations means that even a minor reduction in demand can have a significant collective impact on aquatic life.
12 land animals: The remaining dozen are primarily chickens, pigs, and cattle, which are consumed in smaller quantities per person but often endure greater suffering in factory farming systems.

The Indirect Impact: Uncounted Lives

While the direct consumption figures are informative, they often fail to capture the full scope of animal casualties associated with animal agriculture. These indirect deaths can be substantial and include:

Wildlife killed for feed: Land used for growing crops to feed farmed animals displaces or kills vast numbers of wild animals, including birds, rodents, and insects. A shift to a plant-based diet requires less land overall, indirectly protecting these habitats.
Bycatch in fishing: The fishing industry frequently catches and discards non-target marine species, a phenomenon known as bycatch. A reduced demand for seafood diminishes this harmful side effect.
Culling in the egg and dairy industries: Male chicks in the egg industry and male calves in the dairy industry are often culled because they are not considered profitable for production. Choosing a vegan diet withdraws support for these practices entirely.

Ethical and Environmental Implications

The ethical motivation behind veganism is a core principle for many adherents, who believe in minimizing harm to sentient beings. However, the ripple effects extend far beyond the immediate animal welfare concerns. Environmentally, animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water pollution. A shift toward plant-based eating, supported by the saved animal numbers, aligns with a more sustainable lifestyle.

Comparison Table: Impact of Dietary Choices


Factor	Average Omnivore's Diet	Vegan Diet	Impact Comparison
Animals Saved (Approx. Annually)	0	105+ (Vertebrates)	Significantly reduces individual impact on animal exploitation.
CO₂ Emissions (Roughly Annually)	High	Lower	A vegan diet typically has a smaller carbon footprint due to fewer resource requirements.
Water Use (Roughly Annually)	Very High	Significantly Lower	Animal agriculture uses vast amounts of water for livestock and feed crops.
Land Use	High (for grazing and feed crops)	Lower	Requires less land, preserving natural habitats and preventing displacement of wildlife.
Demand Reduction	Supports current animal agriculture levels	Reduces demand, leading to long-term decrease in factory farming.	Shifts market demand toward more ethical and sustainable alternatives.

Conclusion: The Cumulative Effect of Individual Choices

The question of how many animals does one vegan save a year offers a powerful way to quantify the impact of a plant-based diet. While the specific number varies based on methodology and individual consumption, the conclusion remains the same: each person's choice to go vegan or reduce their consumption of animal products contributes significantly to a reduction in animal suffering. This impact, when multiplied across a growing global vegan population, creates a substantial and measurable shift away from industrial animal agriculture. The numbers serve not just as a statistic but as a motivator, illustrating how a personal ethical decision can have a tangible and positive effect on countless animal lives and the broader environment.

Visit Animal Charity Evaluators for in-depth reports and research on the impact of dietary choices and effective altruism.

Frequently Asked Questions

The number is typically calculated by taking global animal consumption and slaughter data, then dividing by the population to get an average per-person consumption. This average is then used to project the number of animals not consumed by someone following a plant-based diet.

Yes, many of the most referenced studies, like the one by Animal Charity Evaluators, include aquatic animals. The high number of animals saved is largely due to the inclusion of fish and shellfish, which are killed in astronomical numbers each year.

This is a common argument, but studies suggest that fewer animals are killed overall. Animal agriculture requires vastly more crops for livestock feed, so a vegan diet, which uses less agricultural land, results in fewer total animal deaths.

This is an ethical debate. While a single person's choice doesn't stop a slaughterhouse, the reduced demand caused by collective veganism over time leads to fewer animals being bred and raised in often inhumane conditions for the factory farming system. In that sense, it prevents a life of suffering.

Estimates often focus on direct consumption but acknowledge that indirect deaths, such as bycatch in fishing or displacement of wildlife for animal feed crops, are significant. The overall animal death toll from animal agriculture is much higher than direct consumption alone.

No, calculations can vary widely based on the data sources, the time frame, the region, and the inclusion of certain animal categories (like invertebrates). This is why figures ranging from 100 to over 300 animals a year can be cited.

Reduced consumption of dairy and eggs is crucial. The dairy industry, for instance, often results in the culling of male calves. The egg industry culls billions of male chicks annually. Avoiding these products stops supporting these industries and prevents significant animal suffering.