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The least vegetarian-friendly countries in Asia

Published:

May 25, 2024 10:00 AM

ICT | 2 min read

A recent Insider Monkey report reveals Japan as the least vegetarian-friendly country in Asia, while Thailand ranks eighth on the list.

More and more individuals are embracing plant-based diets, signalling a global culinary shift. As more people prioritise animal welfare and environmental conservation, certain Asian countries are lagging behind in the vegetarian food scene.

[Hero image credit: Victoria Shes/Unsplash; featured image credit: Tangerine Newt/Unsplash]

The least vegetarian-friendly countries in Asia

Image credit: Lisheng Chang/Unsplash

Thailand ranks eighth in the vegetarian-friendly report

According to the 2024 report published by Insider Monkey, “18 Least Vegetarian Friendly Countries in Asia,” Thailand ranks eighth on the list with an Insider Monkey score of 6. As a Thai vegetarian belonging to the plant-eating, soy-endorsing community, this is saddening yet unsurprising.

Whilst the report commends our nation for the rich culinary scene, including a diverse array of vegetarian options, challenges persist for strict vegetarians due to commonly used ingredients like fish sauce and shrimp paste.

The report, published in April 2024, drew from various sources including Yahoo Finance, Vegan Vs Travel, Tatler, and Reddit, among others, to assess the availability and variety of vegetarian options across Asia.

The 17 least vegetarian-friendly Asian countries

Japan tops the list as the least vegetarian-friendly country in Asia, with a score of 12. China comes in second with a score of 12, followed by Vietnam with a score of 11.

The full list of the least vegetarian-friendly countries in Asia is as follows:

Japan (score: 12)
China (score: 12)
Vietnam (score: 11)
Taiwan (score: 11)
South Korea (score: 9)
Philippines (score: 9)
Indonesia (score: 7)
Thailand (score: 6)
Mongolia (score: 5)
Hong Kong (score: 5)
Laos (score: 5)
Myanmar (score: 4)
Cambodia (score: 3)
Malaysia (score: 3)
Azerbaijan (score: 2)
Uzbekistan (score: 2)
Kyrgyzstan (score: 2)

Note:

The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.

written by

Natasha Sethi

An animal-loving activist with a fervor for writing, designing, and anything creative. Natasha's hobbies include obsessing over golden retrievers & ocean swimming.