Americans over age 55 eat more ice cream per capita than any other age group, with an average of 56 times annually, compared to the average American who eats ice cream at home 41 times per year. California is the state that likes ice cream the most, while New Zealand consumes the most ice cream per capita worldwide. In the UK, some of the top ice cream spots include Nardini’s and Largs, and nearly three in five UK men aged 16-24 eat ice cream at least once a week during the spring and summer. Belgium boasts the highest per capita ice cream sales in Europe at roughly 16.16 kilograms.
Ice Cream Preferences
Ice cream preferences vary depending on age and gender. The most popular flavor among U.S. adults is classic chocolate ice cream, despite sales being on a decline since 2006. Vanilla also remains a top choice, tied in preference with chocolate.
Ice Cream Consumption Records
Kevin Strahle, commonly known as “LA Beast,” holds the record for most ice cream eaten, consuming 6.3 gallons in just over 33 minutes.
Americans, on average, consume 20.8 liters of ice cream per year. In 2014, ice cream manufacturers in the U.S. produced over 872 million gallons, with vanilla being the most popular flavor, followed by chocolate chip mint.
Per capita, Scotland and Northern Ireland have higher average ice cream consumption than England and Wales, with each person in the UK eating 9 liters of ice cream annually. New Orleans stands out in the United States with the most ice cream shops per capita, more than double the national average. Lastly, 97% of Finns enjoy ice cream, making them the top consumers in Europe at 14 liters per person per year.