Which Country is 100% Vegetarian? Facts and Myths in Vegetable Gardening India

No country on the planet is genuinely 100% vegetarian. People love to point to India, but even there, meat eating is still a thing. Sure, India has the highest number of vegetarians in the world—about 30% of the folks there stick to plant-based diets. That’s huge compared to almost any other place. But to say the whole country is meat-free? Nope, that’s just a myth.

People have all kinds of reasons for being vegetarian in India. Some do it for religion, others out of tradition, and a few just love veggies. But step into any busy city and you’ll find chicken curry, lamb kebabs, and seafood being served alongside dal and sabzi. So if you’re dreaming of a nation where meat never touches a plate, it simply doesn’t exist. What India does have, though, is a veggie culture that’s super creative and deeply rooted. Let’s look at why—and how—you can learn from it if you’re getting serious about vegetable gardening.

• Is There Really a 100% Vegetarian Country?
• Why India Has So Many Vegetarians
• How India Grows Its Veggies
• Vegetable Gardening Tips from India

Is There Really a 100% Vegetarian Country?

Let’s get straight to it—there is no 100 percent vegetarian country on Earth. That might disappoint a few folks, but it’s reality. Even in places known for veggie-heavy diets, you’ll always find people who eat eggs, fish, or meat, or who import animal products for restaurants and international visitors. There’s always someone grilling chicken or tucking into a beef burger, even if it’s not the local norm.

Now, India often pops up in these conversations. It’s famous for dishes loaded with lentils, veggies, and grains; and yes, it has more vegetarians than any other country. But is India a vegetarian country by the numbers? The truth might surprise you. Surveys, like the 2019 National Family Health Survey, show that about 30% of Indians say they’re vegetarian. That means over two-thirds eat some meat, fish, or eggs at least now and then. There are parts of India—like Rajasthan and Gujarat—where being vegetarian is the norm. But travel to Kerala or the northeast and you’ll find fish and chicken at every corner shop.

If you look at the world stage, no country comes close to being completely meat-free. Here’s a quick look at vegetarian stats from some top countries:

The numbers make it clear: no country has managed to go fully vegetarian yet. The reasons vary—culture, economics, habits, even climate. But everywhere you go, you’ll spot a mix of diets.

If you’re looking for a truly vegetarian country to move to, sorry, you won’t find one. But what you can find are vegetarian communities, festivals, and regions all over the world. India just happens to top the charts—not because everyone is vegetarian, but because more people there choose a plant-based lifestyle than anywhere else.

Why India Has So Many Vegetarians

It all comes down to a mix of religion, culture, and what’s available locally. Most Indian vegetarians aren’t just following a food trend—they’re sticking to beliefs that go back thousands of years. Hinduism, which is big in India, promotes ahimsa (non-violence), so a lot of folks avoid meat because they don’t want to harm animals. Jainism takes it to another level: Jains don’t just skip meat, they even avoid root veggies like onions and garlic because pulling them harms tiny organisms in the soil.

If you look at the numbers, they’re pretty wild. A 2021 government survey found roughly 39% of Indian women and 49% of Indian men eat meat, but often not every day. Meanwhile, about 30% of Indians are vegetarian, the highest rate anywhere. Check out this simple breakdown:

Another factor is cost. For a lot of families, meat and fish are just too pricey. Fresh vegetables and lentils stretch further and can feed more mouths on a tight budget. Plus, with so many amazing plant-based recipes—think curries, dosas, and all kinds of street snacks—nobody feels like they’re missing out.

This combo of faith, wallet, and traditional cooking keeps vegetarian eating at the heart of daily life for millions. Even in the cities, vegetarian meals are everywhere, and a lot of restaurants are 100% plant-based by default. So when folks talk about India’s obsession with going meatless, it’s really just baked into everyday life.

How India Grows Its Veggies

Here's where things get interesting. India doesn't just eat a lot of vegetables—it grows a crazy amount too. It’s actually the second biggest producer of vegetables in the world, right after China. And we're talking about more than 190 million metric tons grown every year. That’s enough veggies to fill millions of trucks every single season.

Most Indian homes, even the small city apartments, make space for a few veggie pots or window boxes. In the countryside, you’ll find kitchen gardens behind almost every home, growing everything from tomatoes and okra to brinjal and chillies. Bigger farms stick with classics like potatoes, onions, and cauliflower, because those sell best in local markets.

If you peek into how these veggies are grown, three things stand out:

• India uses a mix of traditional and high-tech farming. Farmers still use cow dung compost and crop rotations passed down for generations, but you’ll also see drip irrigation and greenhouses in some regions.
• There’s year-round planting thanks to the climate—stuff like spinach, fenugreek, and coriander can be grown almost anytime. Other crops rotate in and out based on monsoon and winter patterns.
• Local farming means veggies reach markets fast, so the produce stays super fresh. In some towns, the veggies you buy at 10am were picked at sunrise.

To give you an idea of what’s popular, here’s a quick look at some key vegetarian veggies grown all over India:

One thing you’ll notice—most Indian veggies don’t travel far from field to plate, and home gardeners get in on the action too. If you want more ideas, just ask someone in India about their kitchen garden. You’ll usually get a half-hour tip session on what grows best in small spaces or pots and how to fight off the usual garden bugs with home remedies.

Vegetable Gardening Tips from India

If you're aiming for garden success, India has a playbook filled with smart, practical tricks. For starters, growing food isn’t just for people with big farms. In Indian cities, folks get creative with tiny balconies, rooftops, or even recycled buckets. Space is tight, but with a bit of planning, anyone can grow at least a handful of vegetables at home.

Timing is everything in the Indian veggie scene. People typically plant their main crops before the monsoon hits—think June—to make the most of all that free rainwater. If you want tomatoes, brinjal (eggplant), or chilies, that's the sweet spot to toss down your seeds.

Here's what a lot of Indian gardeners never skip:

• Compost is king. Instead of dumping kitchen scraps, most households make their own organic compost right at home. Potato peels, coffee grounds, and spoiled fruit fuel lush, healthy plants.
• Neem oil is the go-to fix for pests. Instead of reaching for harsh chemicals, neem oil sprays keep bugs off your leaves and are much safer for your food.
• Intercropping saves space and boosts harvest. For example, grow fast-growing leafy greens between slower crops like cabbage or cauliflower—it means double the veg with half the hassle.
• Shade nets and old cloths protect tender plants from the crushing Indian sun. You don’t need anything fancy; whatever you’ve got lying around will do to shield seedlings in the hottest months.

For people keen on water-saving, Indian gardeners often use drip irrigation with recycled plastic bottles. You poke tiny holes in a bottle, bury it near the roots, and let the water slowly seep out. It’s cheap, easy, and works wonders during dry spells.

All this stuff works because Indian gardeners know how to stretch every inch of space and squeeze every drop of water. If you’re serious about getting into vegetable gardening, don’t miss out on these homegrown tricks—straight from the pros in the world’s top vegetarian culture.