This creamy, delicious, nutrient-packed berry (yes, avocado is a berry) has been around for quite some time but has only recently gained the popularity it deserves. As avocado statistics reveal, it’s the most loved and hated fruit of all time.
Everyone knows that this versatile superfood is rich in vitamins, minerals, and good fats. You can eat it with both sweet and savory foods and use it for hair and face masks. But did you know that the avocado market is booming and that even the Mexican drug cartels are interested in the “alligator pear” industry? Keep reading to find out more about this delicious fruit.
The Top 10 Essential Avocado Facts and Statistics
- People with latex allergies should avoid eating avocados.
- Avocados provide almost 20 vitamins and minerals.
- Avocados are packed with antioxidants.
- Avocados can help reduce depression symptoms.
- Avocados are an excellent pregnancy food.
- Avocado oil promotes wound healing.
- Avocado oil can help treat plaque psoriasis symptoms.
- The global avocado market could reach $19.5 Billion by 2027.
- The U.S. imported around 2.35 billion pounds of fresh avocados in 2019/2020.
- Mexico remains the largest shareholder in the global avocado production.
If the above facts and stats have sparked your interest, keep on scrolling to discover more about avocado pricing, market, nutrition, varieties, and more.
Avocado Nutrition Facts
Why are avocados so nutritious? Which nutrients make them one of the superfoods—are those vitamins, minerals, and protein in avocado, or does nutrition data list other substances as the most beneficial?
Let’s dive into the most intriguing avocado facts and avocado statistics for 2021 and find the answers.
1. Avocado consists of 73% water and 15% fat.
(Medical News Today)
Avocado is rich in monounsaturated fats, but it also has 8.5% carbohydrates, which come primarily from fibers, as well as 2% protein. According to the 1/2 avocado nutrition facts, the fruit has 109 calories or 160 calories per 100g.
2. 1 medium avocado, according to nutrition data, provides 13.5 g of fiber.
(VeryWellFit, Medical News Today)
As most carbs in an avocado come from fiber, a whole avocado has 17 g of carbohydrates, according to the avocado fiber nutrition facts. In other words, fiber accounts for 79% of carbohydrate content.
Moreover, it has only 0.5 g of sugar, making its glycemic index 15, which is very low compared to other fruit.
3. 75% of fats in an avocado are good fats.
(Love One Today)
In the past, avocado has been considered unhealthy because of the amount of fat it contains. However, these are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (omega-3 and omega-6), proven to be good for health. A 1/4 avocado, according to nutrition data, has 8g of fat. And according to the US FDA labels regarding avocado nutrition and its fat content, it’s considered healthy.
4. People with a latex allergy should avoid eating avocados.
(WebMD)
Avocado allergy statistics show that you’re more likely to develop an allergic reaction to avocados if you’re allergic to latex.
This is because a protein found in avocados is similar to that in the Brazilian rubber tree sap—the material used to make latex products.
5. A 5-oz avocado has 3g of protein.
(Love One Today)
Proteins are rich in amino acids responsible for building and maintaining muscle mass and tissues, and that’s why consuming proteins is essential for a healthy life. Fresh avocados don’t have significant amounts of protein, but a 50g serving of avocado has 1g of protein, which is pretty high for a fruit. Moreover, protein provides four calories per gram.
Vitamins and Minerals in Avocado: Stats and Facts
Avocados are a great source of vitamins and minerals. B-complex vitamins, vitamins C, E, K, magnesium, copper, and potassium are some of the nutrients this creamy fruit provides.
Avocados are also a rich source of lutein, beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential amino acids, making them an excellent ally against obesity, cardiovascular diseases, etc.
6. Avocados provide almost 20 vitamins and minerals.
(WebMD)
According to avocado nutrition statistics, besides other nutrients, a 3.5-oz serving of avocado provides:
- 485 mg of potassium
- 81 mcg of folate
- 0.257 mg of vitamin B6
- 10 mg of vitamin C
- 2.07 mg of vitamin E
Additionally, avocado has more protein, antioxidants, and less sugar than most other fruits.
7. A 3.5-oz serving of a California avocado has over 14% daily value of vitamin C.
(Healthy Eating)
Let’s compare Florida avocado vs. California avocado. We’ll see that the former has more than double DV of vitamin C, that is, 28%, compared to what the California avocado nutrition data shows us.
The avocado nutrition data clarifies that vitamin C is essential for several functions in our body. It can repair blood vessels and ligaments, maintain healthy teeth and bones, and improve the body’s ability to absorb iron. Not to mention that vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, too.
8. A single serving of avocado has more potassium than a banana (15%).
(Healthline)
Studies have discovered that people don’t get enough potassium through food, which is needed for maintaining the electrical gradients of our body’s cells. However, the avocado statistics show that a single serving of avocado can help with this problem since it has more potassium than a banana, which has only 10% DV of potassium.
9. A 3.5 oz serving of California avocado also has 10% DV of vitamin E.
(Healthy Eating)
Vitamin E is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system, producing red blood cells, and normal cell function; avocado is an excellent source of this vitamin. Moreover, vitamin E is also an antioxidant, just like vitamin C. The avocado, along with its vitamins — nutrition data shows — improves the function of vitamin K.
10. Half of a fresh avocado has a 20% DV of vitamin B5.
(NIH)
The B-complex vitamin group is responsible for turning food into energy our body needs, and vitamin B5 is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Additionally, it helps our body use other vitamins.
11. One-third of an avocado has 10% DV of copper.
(Avocados from Mexico)
Mexican avocado nutrition data shows that a single serving of avocado is rich in copper, a mineral that keeps the blood vessels, nerves, immune system, and bones healthy.
Avocado Health Benefits
The rise in the number of health-conscious people led to many turning to healthier nutritional choices. Avocado stood out as one of the excellent choices due to the abundance of vitamins and minerals that can help support optimal overall health and ward off various diseases.
Let’s check out the benefits including this fruit in your has to offer.
12. Avocados are packed with antioxidants.
(Medical News Today, USDA)
According to avocado nutrition statistics and data, a single avocado (5 oz) contains 406 mcg of lutein and zeaxanthin. They are the two powerful carotenoids with antioxidant properties that support eye health and reduce the risk of AMD. Thanks to the high fat content in avocados, the body can easily absorb them.
Avocados also contain antioxidants such as persenones A and B that prevent inflammation and protect from cancer.
13. Eating avocado lowers LDL cholesterol by up to 22%.
(Healthline)
Studies have discovered that including avocado in a low-fat, vegetarian diet can improve the cholesterol profile. It lowers the overall cholesterol, reduces blood triglycerides by up to 20%, and increases the HDL cholesterol by up to 11%.
14. Avocado toast can help you lose weight.
(Nutrition Journal)
Avocado is a brilliant replacement for high-calorie toast toppings. Studies reveal that people who added just a half of a Hass avocado experienced a 40% decrease in their hunger levels over the following three to five hours after the meal.
The avocado toast nutrition data also shows that substituting butter for avocado on a toast results in eating 57,000 calories less per year, making avocado the perfect weight-loss food.
15. Avocados can help reduce depression symptoms.
(WebMD, WebMD, Medical News Today, Harvard Health Publishing)
Managing depression is only one of many avocado health benefits.
Research shows a direct link between depression and low levels of folate and omega-3s. Avocados are exceptionally rich in these nutrients, so it’s believed they could help keep depression at bay.
Folate, one of the B-vitamins, blocks the build-up of homocysteine in the blood. Homocysteine is a substance that can slow down the flow of nutrients to your brain, triggering depression.
Omega-3s may help relieve depression by reducing inflammation and interacting with mood-related molecules in the brain.
16. Avocado reduces inflammation, and it also may reduce the risk of cancer.
(Healthline)
Most of the fat in an avocado is oleic acid. This is a monounsaturated fatty acid that is also the major component of olive oil, and it’s been linked to lower levels of inflammation. It has also shown a positive impact on genes associated with cancer.
17. Avocado supplements can ease arthritis symptoms and pain.
(NCBI)
Studies have revealed that avocado-soybean supplements are especially beneficial to patients suffering from arthritis-caused knee and hip pains. Arthritis affects more than 46 million people, and avocado-based supplements have shown great potential in reducing the need for drugs.
18. Eating avocados can promote healthy digestion.
(WebMD, Johns Hopkins Medicine)
Avocado nutrition statistics show that avocados are packed with nutrients that support healthy digestive function and prevent constipation. They’re high in potassium and fiber, especially insoluble fiber that helps move waste out of the body.
Additionally, since avocados are low in fructose, it’s less likely to cause gas.
19. Studies on animals show that avocado seed extract could reduce blood pressure.
(NCBI)
Researchers reveal that avocado seed extracts can relax blood vessels, which positively impacted experimental animals. However, the health benefits of the avocado seed need to be further tested on people, but they show great potential for managing high blood pressure.
20. Avocado leaf tea is beneficial against kidney stones.
(ScienceDirect)
In many parts of the world, avocado leaves have been traditionally used as medicine for diarrhea, sore throat, bleeding, inflammation, as a diuretic, etc. Recent studies conducted on rats have shown that avocado tea is also helpful in destroying kidney stones.
21. Avocados are an excellent pregnancy food.
(WebMD, Healthline)
It’s recommended to take at least 400 mcg of folate a day during pregnancy to prevent brain- and spine-related congenital disabilities.
According to avocado nutrition statistics, consuming just one avocado can provide you with 41% of the recommended daily amount.
Additionally, the high fiber content in avocados promotes healthy bowel movements and prevents constipation, reducing the risk of diabetes and preeclampsia.
22. Avocado tea also has anti-diabetic properties.
(NCBI)
According to some recent research, avocado leaves’ health benefits are numerous. The leaves have been traditionally used in Latin America and Africa as a treatment for diabetes. A study conducted on animals showed that the extract of avocado leaves reduced blood glucose levels and improved the metabolic state of the animals.
23. Monounsaturated fatty acids, that avocado has plenty of, protect the brain cells.
(NCBI)
Avocado is very rich in these acids, and consuming it regularly can protect the information-carrying nerves in our brain and even improve its ability to control muscles.
24. Avocados promote the absorption of essential nutrients.
(FIC.OSU)
Most essential nutrients are fat-soluble, meaning that they’re better absorbed when consumed with fat.
According to data on avocado nutrition, fat is one of the nutrients avocados are particularly rich in, making them an ideal nutrient absorption aide.
Avocado Oil Health Benefits
Unlike many other cooking oils, avocado isn’t just a food item. This versatile product found use in other spheres, such as skincare and cosmetics.
Let’s check out the most intriguing avocado oil facts below.
25. Avocado oil can be beneficial for your skin.
(Healthline)
The protein, fatty acids, beta carotene, vitamins A, D, and E, and lecithin in avocado oil help moisturize the skin and protect it from inflammation and harmful UV rays.
Avocado oil facts also reveal that these ingredients also improve collagen metabolism, directly impacting skin health.
26. The avocado pulp consists of approximately 60% oil.
(NCBI)
Avocado oil is more than versatile. It’s used in cooking and beauty products, as well as medicine. Research shows that the oil quality depends significantly on the quality and maturity of the fruit and the extraction technique (temperature, conservation, and solvents). The highest-quality avocados give extra virgin avocado oil.
27. A tablespoon of avocado oil has 14g of 3 different types of fat.
(VeryWellFit)
According to the data on avocado oil nutrition, the oil contains a small amount of saturated fat that contributes to heart disease. However, a tablespoon of this oil also contains 2g of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are great for the whole cardiovascular system. The rest are monounsaturated fats that increase the HDL or the so-called good cholesterol. Additionally, avocado oil has zero carbs.
28. Avocado oil promotes wound healing.
(Healthline, Medical News Today)
Quicker wound healing is another of the avocado oil health benefits. Oleic acid, linoleic acid, and other monosaturated fatty acids from avocado oil reduce the inflammation throughout the healing process, making it faster.
These substances also promote collagen synthesis or the process of creating new connective tissue.
29. Avocado oil enhances the absorption of carotenoids.
(NCBI)
Avocado oil enhances the absorption of many nutrients, and carotenoid antioxidants are one of them. The avocado oil facts reveal that adding this oil to a salad with spinach, lettuce, and carrots, significantly increases the absorption of carotenoids, which are antioxidants that protect our organism from diseases and improve our immune system.
30. Consuming avocado oil reduces the risk of cataracts.
(NCBI)
Avocado oil is very rich in lutein, an antioxidant that’s especially beneficial for the eyes’ overall health. Still, it’s exceptionally efficient in lowering the risk of cataracts and preventing macular degeneration, two of the most common age-related diseases of the eye.
31. Avocado oil supplements can protect the DNA from damage.
(NCBI)
This was the conclusion of research conducted with pilots and frequent flyers exposed to cosmic ionizing radiation, which is proven to damage DNA and potentially speed up the aging process. The results reveal that antioxidants found in avocado have protective effects and could contribute to a healthy aging process.
32. Avocado oil can help treat plaque psoriasis symptoms.
(Healthline, Healthline, Mayo Clinic)
About 6.7 million U.S. adults suffer from this chronic, incurable illness that causes red, scaly, and itchy patches on the skin.
Research shows that mixing avocado oil with vitamin B-12 cream provides plaque psoriasis relief for longer than traditional vitamin D3 treatment.
33. Avocado oil alleviates psoriasis symptoms.
(NCBI)
Studies showed that psoriasis patients who used a vitamin B12 cream enriched with avocado oil had consistent improvement throughout the research compared to patients who used traditional psoriasis treatment. Additionally, avocado oil is beneficial to other skin problems, but it can be used as a part of a beauty routine, even if there aren’t any skin conditions.
Avocado Market Stats and Facts
The global avocado market has experienced exponential growth over the past decade, with countries like Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Chile, and Morocco as the top producers.
Avocado production more than tripled during the past decade, soaring from 693,000 tons recorded in 2009 to 2,140,000 tons in 2019.
As a result, the avocado industry has become very profitable, generating billions of dollars in sales worldwide.
Stick around as we take you through some of the most satisfying avocado industry statistics and facts, revealing just how much growth the avocado market has experienced over the past decade.
34. The global avocado market could reach $19.5 Billion by 2027.
(GlobeNewswire, Yahoo!Money)
According to avocado statistics from 2020, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% between 2020 and 2027.
The increase of awareness of avocado’s health benefits and nutritional value among millennials and a rising middle-class population are some of the factors driving the global market expansion.
35. The US was in 8th place in global avocado production in 2018.
(Statista)
Considering the data on avocado production by country from 2018, Mexico was the leader, with 2.18 million tons of avocado. Additionally, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Indonesia, and Colombia were the top five countries in avocado production, while the US produced 1.6 million tons of avocado, taking 8th place worldwide.
36. California’s growers have harvested 21.2 tons of avocado since the beginning of 2020.
(Fresh Plaza)
Compared to the same period in the previous year, when only 2.3 tons of fruit were harvested, California almost has surpluses now, as the avocado growers claim. However, heavy rainfalls and a decline in Mexico’s production over the holidays have prevented stock accumulation.
37. The U.S. imported around 2.35 billion pounds of fresh avocados in 2019/2020.
(Statista, Statista)
That’s nearly double the amount in comparison with figures from almost a decade ago.
The increasing imported avocado growth rate figures reflect the changing attitudes of the U.S. population towards healthy eating and the increased awareness of this fruit’s health benefits.
Additionally, the US avocado imports statistics show that the majority of imported avocados came from Mexico in 2020.
38. The production value per hectare of avocado trees in Mexico grew four times in a decade.
(WRI)
“Green gold” is a common nickname for avocado in Mexico. As the industry grows, so does the production value of avocado trees, which is now about $7,000, or close to four times more than just ten years ago, as the data on the avocado industry in Mexico reveals.
39. The avocado oil industry reached $180 million in 2019.
(MarketWatch)
Avocado oil manufacturers are very close to avocado growing areas, so it’s no surprise that they’re mainly concentrated in Mexico, South America, and the US, with 50.36% of global production happening in North America. It’s expected that, by 2024, the global avocado oil market will have reached $210 million and approximately 2.4% CAGR.
40. The global avocado market was worth $11.02 billion in 2020.
(Financial Times, GlobeNewswire, KTVN, Research and Markets)
The avocado industry failed to reach the previously estimated size of $14 billion in 2020. Moreover, the market worth decreased from $12.824 billion recorded in 2019.
The likely cause of that is the supply chain disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Massive flight cancellations made it extremely challenging to export this fruit with limited shelf life.
41. In 2018, the US imported close to 889,000 metric tons of avocado from Mexico, as avocado statistics show.
(Statista)
Between 2018 and 2019, the US was the leading destination country for Mexican avocados. In addition to this, during the 2019 Super Bowl, avocado import from Michoacán, Mexico, to the US amounted to 120,000 metric tons.
42. In 2017, the value of the avocado produced in the US was estimated at $392 million.
(AgMRC)
During the same year, the US imported $2.6 billion in fresh avocados and exported close to $28,500 in fresh avocados. According to the avocado production statistics, the US produced 146,310 tons of avocado.
43. Mexico remains the largest shareholder in global avocado production.
(Statista, Avocado Source)
Mexico alone produces up to 2.3 million tons of avocado each year. According to avocado growers, the presence of timely rainfall, abundant sunshine, and rich volcanic soil make Mexico an optimal environment for growing avocados.
Other avocado-exporting giants include Peru, Dominican Republic, and Colombia.
44. Mexican avocados brought the US $932 million in taxes in 2017.
(Avocados from Mexico)
Due to their four bloom cycles, fresh avocados are available to the US market all year round. Approximately 30,000 avocado orchards from Mexico supply the whole world.
45. Some 95% of avocado in the US and 80% worldwide are of the Hass variety.
(Smithsonian Magazine)
Even though people have cultivated avocados for thousands of years, the avocado consumption statistics show that out of the 400 available varieties today, Hass is the most consumed one.
46. The global avocado oil market reached $484.6 million in 2020.
(IMARC)
There’s a continually high demand for avocado oil due to the increase in the health-conscious population.
This healthy oil can be used for cooking, medicinal purposes, or skincare.
47. Every year, Americans eat 7 pounds of avocado per person.
(Smithsonian Magazine)
The demand for avocados is currently at its high. Compared to 1989, when people ate just one pound of avocado per year, on average, today’s numbers are skyrocketing. Furthermore, the USDA claims that the numbers have tripled since the 2000s, and the guac has become a global obsession, according to the guacamole statistics.
FAQs
What are the health benefits of avocado?
Avocados are full of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that keep us healthy. They can prevent some cancers, lower cholesterol levels, protect our eyes, boost our mood, help us lose or gain weight, and more.
How many avocados are eaten each year?
Every year, Americans eat 69 million pounds of avocado on Super Bowl Day alone. Moreover, Chipotle uses 97,000 pounds of avocado every day.
What country consumes the most avocados?
Americans eat the most avocados and have consumed 2.6 billion pounds of the fruit in 2019.
How many avocados are in the world?
In 2017, there were 5,924,398 metric tonnes of avocado in the world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT).
How big is the avocado industry?
Though the avocado industry is fairly young, it expanded pretty quickly.
Avocado statistics for 2020 reveal that the global avocado market was worth a whopping $11.02 billion in 2020. At the same time, the retail sales of avocado in the U.S. alone amounted to 2.6 billion dollars.
Conclusion
With all its vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, the avocado statistics show that this fruit is an excellent addition to a well-balanced diet. No matter if you eat it as a dessert or a part of the main dish, you’ll never go wrong with the creamy deliciousness of fresh avocados.
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