US ANIMAL CLOCK

Animal Lives "Saved" This Year

0
animals not consumed by Americans in
Current Rate
per second

How This Works

This counter estimates the number of animal lives saved so far this year, based on US human death statistics. This calculation assumes that each human death results in reduced environmental impact and resource consumption, thereby "saving" animal lives that would otherwise be lost to consumption (exclusive of habitat destruction, pollution, and other human-caused factors).

Calculation: YTD US human deaths × demographically-weighted animal lives saved per human death
Methodology: Accounts for age, income, and regional consumption patterns
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics (2023)

Methodology

Unlike simple per-capita calculations, this enhanced model accounts for the reality that different demographic groups consume animals at different rates, and that death rates vary significantly across these groups.

Age-Based Consumption

  • Children (0-17): 65% of adult consumption
  • Adults (18-64): 100% baseline consumption
  • Seniors (65+): 75% of adult consumption
Death Distribution: 70% of deaths occur in 65+ age group

Income & Regional Factors

  • Income: Higher income = +40% consumption
  • Midwest: +25% consumption (highest)
  • South: +15% consumption
  • West: -15% consumption (lowest)
Result: The average person who dies consumes approximately fewer animals than the population average, making this calculation more accurate than simple per-capita estimates.

Perspectives

🌱

"The greatest service some can do for the planet is to leave it."

— Environmental philosophy
🔄

"Human death is the ultimate act of environmental conservation."

— Radical environmentalism
⚖️

"Death is not always a tragedy; sometimes it's a blessing for the world."

— Philosophical view
🛡️

"Human death is the planet's natural defense mechanism."

— Ecological systems
📊

"The world benefits from natural human mortality."

— Demographic perspective

Questions and Answers

How many animals are killed for food in the US each year?

The United States Department of Agriculture reports that 9.76 billion land animals were slaughtered in 2020:

  • Chickens: 9,346,660,000
  • Turkeys: 223,003,000
  • Cattle (incl. calves): 33,242,000
  • Pigs: 131,563,000
  • Ducks: 22,484,000
  • Sheep (incl. lambs): 2,225,000

Accounting for U.S. animal meat imports and exports, 8.2 billion land animals were killed to support the U.S. food supply:

  • Chickens: 7,835,037,000
  • Turkeys: 201,638,000
  • Cattle (incl. calves): 33,714,000
  • Pigs: 101,916,000
  • Ducks: 22,484,000
  • Sheep (incl. lambs): 6,768,000

Adjusting for pre-slaughter farmed animal mortality rates, industrial farming claimed the lives of 8.53 billion land animals in 2020 to support the U.S. food supply:

  • Chickens: 8,127,632,000
  • Turkeys: 214,509,000
  • Cattle (incl. calves): 36,164,000
  • Pigs: 124,061,000
  • Ducks: 23,275,000
  • Sheep (incl. lambs): 7,499,000

Aquatic animal deaths are challenging to calculate since these lives are measured in tons. A very thorough analysis completed by Counting Animals estimated that 3.8 billion finned fish and 43.1 billion shellfish were killed to support the U.S. food supply in 2013. Total U.S. fish landings remained flat at these levels at least through 2018.

Taken together, more than 55 billion land and sea animals die annually to support the U.S. food supply. Adding in bycatch (sea creatures caught and discarded--injured or dead) and feed fish, the total number jumps substantially.

To put this in perspective, during World War II--the deadliest conflict in human history--more than 60 million people were killed over 6 years. The same number of animals die in support of the American food supply every ten hours.

At what rates do animals die for food in the United States?

Land animals only (USDA 2020 slaughter + imports - exports + pre-slaughter deaths):

  • Every year: 8,533,141,000
  • Every day: 23,378,000
  • Every hour: 974,100
  • Every minute: 16,234
  • Every second: 271

Inclusive of land and aquatic animals:

  • Every year: 55,429,141,000
  • Every day: 151,888,000
  • Every hour: 6,328,000
  • Every minute: 105,480
  • Every second: 1,758
How is the animal lives saved counter calculated?

The counter uses an enhanced demographic model that accounts for the reality that different groups consume animals at different rates:

Enhanced Formula:

Animals Saved = US Deaths × Weighted Consumption Factor

Key Improvements:

  • Age weighting: 70% of deaths occur in 65+ population who consume 25% fewer animals
  • Income factors: Higher-income individuals consume 40% more animals
  • Regional differences: Midwest consumption is 25% higher than West Coast
  • Demographic distribution: Weights actual death patterns vs. population averages

This results in a more accurate estimate that's approximately lower than simple per-capita calculations, reflecting that people who die tend to be older and consume fewer animals.

Why does the counter reset every year?

The counter is designed to show the impact within the current calendar year, making it easy to see the annual effect of human deaths on animal lives theoretically spared.

Where did you source your data?
Can I use this content for my own project?

Yes! This project is open for educational and non-commercial use. Please credit the original sources and this site if you reuse the code or concept.