The United States is the world’s third-largest producer and consumer of pork and pork products, according to the USDA Economic Research Service’s report on hogs and pork. Country by country, however, we’re the second-largest, because the USDA and other agencies that record such data list the European Union — an agglomeration of 28 nations — as number two.
Number one? As the trade publication National Hog Farmer puts it, “China has probably been the world’s largest pork-producing country for as long as China has been a country.” (In 2018, it accounted for 48% of the world’s pork production.) The Chinese also consume almost two-and-a-half times what the entire EU does and more than five times what we Americans manage to eat.
Per capita pork consumption in the U.S. has grown from 49.9 pounds in 2015 to 52.1 pounds last year. Industry analysts suggest that the ever-increasing popularity of Asian and Latin American cuisines, in which pork is frequently a centerpiece, might be contributing to the rise. The never-ending bacon “trend” probably contributes, too.
The country’s largest pork producer by far is Iowa, responsible for some 14.46 billion pounds in 2019 — roughly three times what the number-two state, Minnesota, Iowa’s northern neighbor, manages. (It may or may not be coincidental that Iowa records the seventh-highest adult obesity rate in the country, according to 24/7 Wall St.’s special report on the healthiest states in America.)
As is the case with beef, tiny Rhode Island — our smallest state — takes last place in production, accounting for a total of only 638,000 pounds of pork in 2019.
Click here to see the state first in the nation for hog production.
Source: KenWiedemann / iStock via Getty Images
50. Rhode Island
> Hog production 2019: 638,000 pounds ($322,000)
> 1-year change in hog production: 20.4% — 13th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 13.0% — 16th largest increase
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Source: Evgeny_D / iStock via Getty Images
49. Nevada
> Hog production 2019: 648,000 pounds ($530,000)
> 1-year change in hog production: -16.3% — the largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: 153.6% — largest increase
Source: Jacqueline Nix / iStock via Getty Images
48. Louisiana
> Hog production 2019: 919,000 pounds ($689,000)
> 1-year change in hog production: -35.5% — 2nd largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -26.4% — 5th largest decline
Source: sakepaint / iStock via Getty Images
47. New Mexico
> Hog production 2019: 957,000 pounds ($614,000)
> 1-year change in hog production: -8.5% — 9th largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -16.1% — 6th largest decline
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Source: JodiJacobson / iStock via Getty Images
46. Alaska
> Hog production 2019: 982,000 pounds ($615,000)
> 1-year change in hog production: 26.1% — 9th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 42.0% — 3rd largest increase
Source: Leembe / iStock via Getty Images
45. New Jersey
> Hog production 2019: 1.0 million pounds ($743,000)
> 1-year change in hog production: 22.8% — 11th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 7.4% — 22nd largest increase
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Source: Don White / E+ via Getty Images
44. Hawaii
> Hog production 2019: 1.0 million pounds ($478,000)
> 1-year change in hog production: -16.5% — 5th largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -28.1% — 3rd largest decline
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Source: Alexander Farnsworth / iStock via Getty Images
43. Connecticut
> Hog production 2019: 1.4 million pounds ($693,000)
> 1-year change in hog production: 63.4% — 2nd largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 54.0% — 2nd largest increase
Source: vermontalm / Getty Images
42. New York
> Hog production 2019: 1.4 million pounds ($6.4 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: -84.4% — the largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -3.4% — 15th largest decline
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Source: EPasqualli / iStock via Getty Images
41. Maine
> Hog production 2019: 1.4 million pounds ($792,000)
> 1-year change in hog production: -30.5% — the largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -29.1% — 2nd largest decline
Source: ablokhin / iStock via Getty Images
40. West Virginia
> Hog production 2019: 1.5 million pounds ($885,000)
> 1-year change in hog production: 4.7% — 26th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: -1.3% — 17th largest decline
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Source: tibu / iStock via Getty Images
39. Vermont
> Hog production 2019: 1.6 million pounds ($867,000)
> 1-year change in hog production: -27.5% — 4th largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -26.9% — 4th largest decline
Source: keenepubliclibrary / Flickr
38. New Hampshire
> Hog production 2019: 1.7 million pounds ($883,000)
> 1-year change in hog production: -0.7% — 12th largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -6.0% — 12th largest decline
Source: icetsarina / Flickr
37. Oregon
> Hog production 2019: 2.2 million pounds ($1.2 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: -33.1% — 3rd largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -38.1% — the largest decline
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Source: bombuscreative / E+ via Getty Images
36. Massachusetts
> Hog production 2019: 3.2 million pounds ($1.7 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: -12.3% — the largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -13.9% — 7th largest decline
Source: MichaelWarrenPix / iStock via Getty Images
35. Florida
> Hog production 2019: 3.7 million pounds ($2.4 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 9.3% — 20th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 21.6% — 12th largest increase
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Source: David_Johnson / Getty Images
34. Washington
> Hog production 2019: 6.7 million pounds ($4.0 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: -12.0% — 8th largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -8.5% — 11th largest decline
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33. Delaware
> Hog production 2019: 9.9 million pounds ($5.1 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 32.4% — 5th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 31.2% — 7th largest increase
Source: Xavier_Ascanio / iStock via Getty Images
32. Maryland
> Hog production 2019: 9.9 million pounds ($5.9 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: -12.8% — 7th largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -13.3% — 8th largest decline
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Source: JackieNix / iStock via Getty Images
31. Alabama
> Hog production 2019: 28.0 million pounds ($18.4 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: -6.5% — 10th largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -10.6% — 9th largest decline
30. Idaho
> Hog production 2019: 28.3 million pounds ($17.3 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 3.7% — 27th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 5.6% — 26th largest increase
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Source: Dreamframer / iStock via Getty Images
29. California
> Hog production 2019: 39.8 million pounds ($27.2 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: -6.3% — 11th largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -3.1% — 16th largest decline
28. South Carolina
> Hog production 2019: 40.1 million pounds ($24.1 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 13.5% — 15th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 33.8% — 6th largest increase
Source: sharply_done / iStock via Getty Images
27. North Dakota
> Hog production 2019: 44.9 million pounds ($60.7 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: -4.0% — the largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: 6.9% — 24th largest increase
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Source: Jacqueline Nix / iStock via Getty Images
26. Georgia
> Hog production 2019: 58.0 million pounds ($36.8 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: -13.0% — 6th largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -9.1% — 10th largest decline
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25. Mississippi
> Hog production 2019: 61.3 million pounds ($41.8 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 451.3% — the largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 7.7% — 21st largest increase
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24. Arkansas
> Hog production 2019: 65.2 million pounds ($57.4 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: -7.2% — the largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: -4.3% — 13th largest decline
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Source: ConradFries / iStock via Getty Images
23. Arizona
> Hog production 2019: 67.7 million pounds ($40.9 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 1.8% — 31st largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 10.2% — 18th largest increase
Source: strickke / E+ via Getty Images
22. Wyoming
> Hog production 2019: 108.8 million pounds ($65.7 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 11.0% — 16th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 14.4% — 15th largest increase
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Source: Jacqueline Nix / iStock via Getty Images
21. Virginia
> Hog production 2019: 109.5 million pounds ($61.9 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 26.4% — 8th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 40.0% — 4th largest increase
Source: 160831427@N06 / Flickr
20. Montana
> Hog production 2019: 120.6 million pounds ($70.3 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 21.2% — 12th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 22.8% — 11th largest increase
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Source: Jacqueline Nix / iStock via Getty Images
19. Tennessee
> Hog production 2019: 160.4 million pounds ($89.5 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 8.0% — 22nd largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 11.9% — 17th largest increase
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18. Kentucky
> Hog production 2019: 195.0 million pounds ($115.6 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 9.5% — 19th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: -4.2% — 14th largest decline
Source: Ron_Thomas / Getty Images
17. Wisconsin
> Hog production 2019: 218.4 million pounds ($150.7 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 28.2% — 7th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 24.4% — 10th largest increase
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16. Utah
> Hog production 2019: 292.4 million pounds ($166.4 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 36.9% — 4th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 34.2% — 5th largest increase
Source: beklaus / E+ via Getty Images
15. Colorado
> Hog production 2019: 293.2 million pounds ($183.9 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 28.2% — 6th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 30.8% — 8th largest increase
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Source: dszc / iStock via Getty Images
14. Texas
> Hog production 2019: 487.7 million pounds ($244.4 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 10.2% — 18th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 8.6% — 19th largest increase
13. Michigan
> Hog production 2019: 635.0 million pounds ($330.1 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 3.7% — 28th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 1.9% — 32nd largest increase
Source: AppalachianViews / Getty Images
12. Pennsylvania
> Hog production 2019: 642.8 million pounds ($330.1 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 19.3% — 14th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 19.5% — 13th largest increase
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11. Kansas
> Hog production 2019: 1.0 billion pounds ($549.5 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 10.9% — 17th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 5.8% — 25th largest increase
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
10. South Dakota
> Hog production 2019: 1.2 billion pounds ($731.3 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 24.5% — 10th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 24.9% — 9th largest increase
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9. Ohio
> Hog production 2019: 1.3 billion pounds ($677.9 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 3.3% — 29th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 0.6% — 33rd largest increase
8. Nebraska
> Hog production 2019: 1.5 billion pounds ($873.7 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 7.8% — 23rd largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 7.1% — 23rd largest increase
Source: marekuliasz / iStock via Getty Images
7. Missouri
> Hog production 2019: 1.7 billion pounds ($927.3 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 37.1% — 3rd largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 19.5% — 14th largest increase
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6. Oklahoma
> Hog production 2019: 2.0 billion pounds ($976.1 million)
> 1-year change in hog production: 8.7% — 21st largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 4.0% — 27th largest increase
Source: JenniferPhotographyImaging / E+ via Getty Images
5. Illinois
> Hog production 2019: 2.2 billion pounds ($1.2 billion)
> 1-year change in hog production: 2.0% — 30th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 2.2% — 29th largest increase
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4. Indiana
> Hog production 2019: 2.2 billion pounds ($1.2 billion)
> 1-year change in hog production: 1.6% — 32nd largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 2.9% — 28th largest increase
Source: red_moon_rise / E+ via Getty Images
3. North Carolina
> Hog production 2019: 4.4 billion pounds ($2.2 billion)
> 1-year change in hog production: 4.8% — 25th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 2.1% — 30th largest increase
Source: JodiJacobson / E+ via Getty Images
2. Minnesota
> Hog production 2019: 4.8 billion pounds ($2.7 billion)
> 1-year change in hog production: 4.8% — 24th largest increase
> 1-year change in hog sales: 8.3% — 20th largest increase
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1. Iowa
> Hog production 2019: 14.5 billion pounds ($7.8 billion)
> 1-year change in hog production: -0.4% — 13th largest decline
> 1-year change in hog sales: 1.9% — 31st largest increase
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