Prevalence and public perception of vegetarianism and veganism : a comparative analysis of nationally representative samples from Slovenia and Croatia

Črnič, Aleš (author), Korže, Vanesa (author)

Although research on vegetarianism and veganism (veg*ism) has expanded significantly, cross-national studies of its general perception remain limited. This study empirically analyses nationally representative samples from Slovenia and Croatia. The results indicate the dominance of meat-based culture in both countries, with veg*ism remaining a marginal phenomenon. Public attitudes towards veg*ism are largely negative, although slightly less so in Croatia than in Slovenia. Cluster analysis reveals three distinct groups: those strongly dismissive, those moderately favourable, and an intermediate group that is not persuaded by the arguments for giving up animal products but is the least critical of the practice of veganism itself, suggesting that personal rejection of its reasoning does not necessarily equate to rejection of the practice. In Croatia, the dismissive group is notably smaller and the favourable group larger than in Slovenia. Women and younger people in both countries have less negative attitudes towards veganism. Education plays a significant role only in Slovenia, where more educated individuals are more receptive to classical arguments for veg*ism and less averse to veganism. Finally, we propose a short set of questions that could be included in one of the large periodic international surveys to allow for a comprehensive assessment of the social and cultural dimensions of veg*ism and its perception across different societies and cultures

• Language: English
• Keywords: meat consumpiton, cluster analysis
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Geographic coverage: Slovenija; Hrvaška
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 243-269
• Numbering: Vol. 63, br. 2 (233)
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177244
• UDC: 316.7:613.2
• ISSN on article: 1846-5226
• DOI: 10.5673/sip.63.2.4
• COBISS.SI-ID: 260630531
• Publication date in RUL: 18.12.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Sociologija i prostor : časopis za istraživanje prostornog i sociokulturnog razvoja
• Publisher: Institut za društvena istraživanja
• ISSN: 1846-5226
• COBISS.SI-ID: 26585181

Secondary language

• Language: Croatian
• Title: Rasprostranjenost i javna percepcija vegetarijanstva i veganstva

Abstract

Unatoč znatnom porastu istraživanja o vegetarijanstvu i veganstvu (veg*stvu), međunacionalne studije koje ispituju njihovu opću društvenu percepciju ostaju rijetke. Ovo istraživanje empirijski analizira nacionalno reprezentativne uzorke iz Slovenije i Hrvatske. Rezultati pokazuju dominaciju kulture utemeljene na konzumaciji mesa u obje zemlje, pri čemu veg*stvo ostaje marginalna pojava. Stavovi javnosti prema veg*stvu pretežito su negativni, premda nešto blaži u Hrvatskoj nego u Sloveniji. Klaster analiza identificira tri skupine ispitanika: izrazito odbacujuće, umjereno naklonjene te međuskupinu koja nije uvjerena argumentima za odricanje od životinjskih proizvoda, ali istodobno pokazuje najmanju kritičnost prema samoj praksi veganstva. To sugerira da osobno neprihvaćanje obrazloženja ne mora nužno značiti i odbacivanje prakse. U Hrvatskoj je skupina koja odbacuje veg*stvo znatno manja, a skupina sklonija veg*stvu veća nego u Sloveniji. U obje zemlje žene i mlađe osobe iskazuju manje negativne stavove prema veganstvu. Obrazovanje ima značajan utjecaj samo u Sloveniji, gdje su obrazovaniji ispitanici prijemčiviji klasičnim argumentima za veg*stvo te iskazuju manju odbojnost prema veganstvu. Na koncu, predlažemo kratak set pitanja pogodnih za uključivanje u jedno od velikih periodičnih međunarodnih istraživanja, kako bi se omogućila sveobuhvatna analiza društvenih i kulturnih dimenzija veg*stva i njegove percepcije u različitim društvima i kulturama.

• Keywords: potrošnja mesa, komparativna analiza

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P5-0203
• Name: Produkcija smisla in znanja v času krize: kulturološki, religiološki in znanstveno-razvojni vidiki družb v Sloveniji, na Balkanu, v Evropi