In this article, we bring to you some surprising protein powder statistics that will back up our claims and provide insight into the reasons behind the aggressive market growth of this industry.
The use of protein supplements is no longer restricted to sports and fitness enthusiasts.
There are countless protein powder health benefits from muscle growth to weight loss and even recovery after strenuous exercises.
In fact, the protein powder market has adapted to cater to vegans and vegetarians as well, which is also fueling its growth.
Top 10 Protein Powder Stats for 2020
- The global protein supplements market had a market value of $18.91 billion in 2020.
- The US accounted for 59.2% of the sports nutrition market’s revenue share in 2020.
- The North American sports nutrition market value was $13.93 billion in 2021.
- Whey protein powder is leading the sales in China.
- The global egg protein powder market crossed the $6.9 billion mark in 2019.
- The sports protein powder category makes up 70% of the US sports nutrition industry.
- The 2019 protein powder sales statistics valued whey protein market size at $8.7 billion.
- Consuming protein can reduce hunger and appetite.
- Vegan protein powder statistics show the plant protein powder market is expanding.
- Hemp protein is 98% digestible, which makes it a high-quality protein source.
General Protein Powder Statistics
Proteins in powdered form are typically used as nutritional supplements to support muscle-toning, body-building, and weight loss.
This section tackles the most compelling protein powder facts. It also explores the most recent statistics about the protein powder industry and aims to discover which is the target market for protein powder sales in the near future.
1. The global protein supplements market had a market value of $18.91 billion in 2020.
(Grand View Research)
According to protein powder statistics for 2020, the protein supplements market will expand in the following seven years. The global protein supplements market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% between 2021 and 2028.
One of the significant contributors to the rapid growth of the protein supplements market is the increased health consciousness and a rising number of people interested in fitness around the globe.
2. In 2019, the protein powder market held 64% of the total market share in revenue.
(Grand View Research)
Factors such as increasing demand from the fitness sector, rising online sales, and popularity of weight-loss powder seem to fuel the growth. The market is expected to expand because of the rising demand from bodybuilders, casual exercisers, and fitness experts.
3. 66.8% of the total market sales are attributed to sports protein powder.
(Grand View Research)
Protein powder’s ability to aid muscle recovery is the leading driving force behind its popularity in the sports sector. With the predicted growth of the global supplements industry, it’s safe to say the demand for different protein powder types is set to increase as well.
4. The US accounted for 59.2% of the sports nutrition market’s revenue share in 2020.
(Grand View Research)
Government-backed fitness and nutrition initiatives, alongside easy availability of sports nutrition products and increased health awareness among the general population, are helping to drive the market of sports protein nutrition in North America.
5. Protein powders are the most widely reviewed products in the sports nutrition industry.
(Lumina Intelligence)
According to a Lumina Intelligence report, protein powders hold the Optimum Nutrition market share, with a total of 411 brands and 1174 variants across different countries and regions. It was also the category that attracted the most customer reviews, amounting to 1.62 million global reviews and an average of almost 950 reviews per product.
6. Online sales dominated the global market share in 2019.
(Grand View Research)
Around 59.5% of the global protein powder sales in 2019 took place online. Here’s the answer for all those wondering how to sell protein powder. The demand for 24/7 availability of products, a variety of options, and ease of access drive the popularity of online protein powder sales.
7. The North American sports nutrition market value was $13.93 billion in 2021.
(Market Data Forecast)
This market is projected to expand further, reaching $20.28 billion by 2026, provided it continues to increase at a CAGR of 7.8%.
The rising number of athletes and bodybuilders in the region drives the sports nutrition products market and athletic protein powder market in North America.
8. Animal-based protein powders dominate market sales.
(Grand View Research)
67.9% of the overall revenue from sales in 2019 came from animal-based products, according to protein powder sales statistics. The fact that they are complete protein sources is what makes whey, egg, and casein powders incredibly popular. Egg yolk protein powders are also used in various bakeries and restaurants for coating and frying.
9. The North American protein powder market generates the highest revenue.
(Grand View Research)
In North America, the use of protein powder for weight loss and increasing health consciousness seems to be driving the market’s growth. As of 2019, the North American region held a revenue generation share of 50.3%. However, it faces tough competition from the Asia Pacific region, which is fast-growing and expected to expand at a CAGR of 8.6% over the next seven years.
10. Protein powders come in a wide variety of flavors.
The possibilities for mixing protein powder with food or beverages are endless, as these supplements come in almost any flavor imaginable. Vanilla, birthday cake, strawberry, chocolate milkshake, and cookies and cream are only some of the flavors you can choose.
For those who’d like to keep things neutral, there are also unflavored protein powder options.
11. Vegan protein powder statistics show the plant protein powder market is expanding.
(Statista)
Statistics show that the global plant protein market value increased from $10.3 billion in 2020 to $11 billion in 2021.
Experts predict the market will continue to expand, reaching $15.6 billion by the end of 2026. Consequently, this will increase the variety of protein on the market and increase the chances for vegan diet followers to find the best plant-based protein powder for their preferences.
12. Whey protein powder is leading the sales in China.
(Nutra Ingredients Asia)
Protein powder sales make up 70% of the overall sports nutrition product sales in China. The best protein powder of 2019 in China was Tmall’s Platinum Whey Powder. The product broke all records by generating $1.01 million in revenue during the pre-order stage.
Protein Powder Consumption Statistics
Healthy lifestyle awareness and increasing interest in fitness and sports are only some of the reasons for the recent skyrocketing protein powder sales. Protein powder research keeps advancing the industry and making this type of supplementation available for a wider population.
Read on and find out about the latest protein powder use statistics available.
13. Protein powder is the most consumed nutritional supplement in gyms.
(ResearchGate)
This is according to a survey of 415 individuals, out of which 56% attested to having consumed a dietary supplement at some point in their lives. The research identified five popular supplement powders, out of which protein supplements were the most consumed, at 28%, followed by L-carnitine, sports drinks, creatine, and vitamin complex, at 18.6%, 18.3%, 17.1%, and 17.1%, respectively.
14. The global egg protein powder market crossed the $6.9 billion mark in 2019.
(Global Market Insights)
Much like an egg, the egg protein powder market is divided into the egg yolk and egg white protein powder markets. The egg yolk market alone is expected to exceed $2.1 billion by 2026. Together, the two drive the egg protein powder market’s growth by a CAGR of over 5.5% over the next seven years.
15. The United States sports protein powder market was worth $4.14 billion in 2018.
(Statista)
The United States protein powder sales statistics predict steady growth for the market over the forecast period of 2020–2025. The United States protein powder market grew from $0.32 billion to $4.46 billion in one year.
16. The sports protein powder category makes up 70% of the US sports nutrition industry.
(Food Navigator USA)
The US sports nutrition industry is a currency worth $6.7 billion, and as per sports nutrition statistics, protein powder sales make up 70% or $4.7 billion of the market. Include the sports and energy drink and nutrition bar category to the sports nutrition industry, and it is all set to cross the $20 billion mark by 2020.
Protein Powder Statistics by Type
This section will take you through various protein powder sources, current market values, and the popularity of this type of supplementation amongst consumers.
17. The 2019 protein powder sales statistics valued whey protein market size at $8.7 billion.
(Grand View Research)
The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 9.8% between 2020 and 2027.
18. Milk protein accounted for the largest share of protein powder products in Europe in 2018.
(Statista)
Whey protein isolate powder consumption statistics show that whey protein isolate ranked third on the list of most common protein powder ingredients in Europe in 2018, with 11.7% of products containing this type of protein.
19. The UK holds the largest market share in Europe.
(Mordor Intelligence)
This market continues to grow, and it’s projected to hit $2.16 billion by 2025, with an anticipated CAGR of 4.12%.
20. The global whey protein powder market is expected to reach $15.4 billion by 2024.
(Statista)
The global market for whey protein was valued at $9.97 billion in 2018. It is expected to grow by over 90.5% in the forecast period of the next six years. The growth is driven chiefly by its benefits for weight loss as it prevents fat gain. The research also indicates that whey isolate protein powder may be more beneficial than normal whey protein.
21. The whey protein market in India is set to grow with a CAGR of 24.3%.
(Business Wire, The Insight Partners)
A business intelligence report by Business Wire predicts India’s whey protein market to reach $1,977.1 million by 2022, up from $828 million in 2018. Inwhich is dia’s whey protein powder market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% through 2019–2027. The growth is driven by the rise in the Indian fitness supplements market, which is expected to reach a CAGR of 18% by 2023.
22. The global market value of pea protein was 215.5 million in 2019.
(Grand View Research)
The use of pea protein in dietary supplements, beverages, and bakery goods will drive market growth. Over the period 2020–2027, the global pea protein market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6%. Pea protein powder benefits are also driving market growth in the United States after the dip in 2017.
23. The plant-based protein market was worth an estimated $10.3 billion in 2020.
(Everyday Health, PR Newswire)
This market could increase to $15.6 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 7.2%.
Some factors driving the plant-based protein market include increasing demand for pea-based protein and growing demand for food in general.
24. Soy protein demand to grow by a CAGR of 7.20% through 2019–2025.
(Industry ARC)
The soy protein market is segmented into soy protein meat, protein powder, and isolate nutrition markets. The industry’s main driving factor is the rise in demand for plant-based supplemental protein and its role in lowering the risk of heart diseases by tackling high cholesterol levels in the body.
25. Casein protein market to exceed $5.9 billion by 2023.
(Industry Arc)
Major growth drivers of the casein protein market are the sports nutrition market and the dietary supplement market. In the Americas alone, the overall market, including that of casein protein powder, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.5% and value $2.9 billion by 2023.
Protein Powder Health Benefits and Nutritional Facts
With the advancement in technologies and urbanization came the increased consumption of ready-made food and junk food due to increasingly busy schedules. This has led to an increased rate of health issues in the global community.
Today, more people are beginning to pay attention to the nutritional content of their daily diet, and protein powder has been at the forefront of this massive change.
Here, we take you through some of the most enticing protein powder nutrition facts and explore how they can benefit our overall health.
26. Consuming protein can reduce hunger and appetite.
(Healthline)
Regularly consuming protein powder can help with weight loss by decreasing the ghrelin hunger hormone levels and increasing appetite-reducing hormone levels (CCK, PLY, and GLP-1).
Furthermore, research revealed that consuming high-protein breakfasts can help participants reduce their calorie intake by 135 kcal later in the day.
27. Hemp protein is 98% digestible, which makes it a high-quality protein source.
(YourSuper.com)
Hemp is a complete source of plant-based protein with all nine essential amino acids. Hemp protein powders are even more beneficial as they contain 20 amino acids that aid the body in building muscle, vital organs, and tissues. Aiding the fat burning process and significantly improving metabolism are also two major hemp protein powder benefits.
28. Whey protein can lower blood pressure.
(Healthline)
Whey protein powder is a high-quality protein source and is generally considered the best among all others, as it is a low-calorie protein powder. A 12-week study on overweight individuals found that regular intake of 54 grams of whey protein powder per day decreased blood pressure by 4%. Drinking 22 grams of whey protein concentrate for six weeks also brought significant improvement.
29. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of protein.
(Medical News Today)
They can be used as a base for pumpkin seed protein powder that provides many benefits, just like other protein powders (muscle development, etc.). This protein powder is particularly suited for vegan diet followers, as it contains no animal-sourced ingredients.
Pumpkin seeds are also an excellent source of polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants essential for heart function and overall health.
30. Pea protein powder is a rich source of iron.
(Healthline)
Pea protein powder can help you meet around 28–42% of the body’s required daily iron intake. It can be particularly beneficial for women, as nearly 10% of American women are iron-deficient. It may not be the best-tasting protein powder, but it is an excellent vegan option.
FAQs
What protein powder is the healthiest?
Whey protein powders are the healthiest and the highest-quality sources of proteins. They are milk-based powders that are easy to digest and feature quick absorption rates. It is also a low-carb option that makes it an excellent choice for weight loss.
Is protein powder bad for you?
Protein powders are generally safe if taken in moderation. Exceeding the daily dose may result in digestive issues.
Additionally, it’s important to note that protein powders aren’t a substitute for a well-rounded diet. They don’t have all the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that balanced meals offer.
How much is the protein industry worth?
The global protein market values $38.02 billion and is all set to rise at a CAGR of 9.1% over the next seven years. The global protein supplement market holds $17.55 billion worth of market share and is also set for aggressive growth, especially the protein powder market. In the United States alone, it is valued at $4.46 billion.
Which is better, pea protein or soy protein?
Both pea and soy protein contain 56 g of protein per 3.5 oz. However, pea protein is an incomplete protein, while soy protein is a complete protein.
Due to the fact it’s a complete protein, soy provides adequate amounts of all nine essential amino acids.
When to use protein powder?
The ideal time for protein consumption mainly depends on the purpose of intake. If you consume protein powder for weight loss, the perfect time for it is in between meals to curb the cravings.
On the other hand, if muscle gain is your goal, it’s best to consume protein powder shortly after the workout. Athletes should take proteins right before or after an intense workout to enhance performance and boost muscle recovery.
Conclusion
The rising awareness about health issues and adaptation of a healthier lifestyle is fueling the aggressive market growth of protein powders. Globally, protein powder consumption is driven by the transition to a healthier lifestyle, and regular gym workouts are quickly becoming a trend, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
Among the various protein powder types, whey protein powder benefits exceed those of others in animal-based sources. Hemp-based protein powders are the most beneficial in plant-based sources. Their nutty taste and nutritional profile make them incredibly popular among users.
In the United States, online sales and virtual markets, in particular, are aiding the market’s growth. Protein powder statistics show massive growth potential and the aggressive growth of the protein powder industry. The product is gaining popularity not only among fitness trainers but also among nutrition experts.
Sources:
- Business Wire
- Everyday Health
- Food Navigator USA
- Global Market Insights
- Grand View Research
- Grand View Research
- Grand View Research
- Grand View Research
- Grand View Research
- Healthline
- Healthline
- Healthline
- Healthline
- Industry Arc
- Industry ARC
- Lumina Intelligence
- Market Data Forecast
- Medical News Today
- Medical News Today
- Mordor Intelligence
- Nutra Ingredients Asia
- PR Newswire
- ResearchGate
- Springer Link
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- The Insight Partners
- com