How Many Types of Cheese Are There? [According to Statistics]
I’ve always been a fan of cheese. It’s one of those versatile ingredients that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. Plus, it’s so darn tasty. As it turns out, there are a lot of different types of cheese out there. Have you ever tried gorgonzola or Boursault? How about brie or blue cheese? If you’re like most people, the answer is probably no. Cheese is a hugely popular food item, and Americans eat more of it than anyone else in the world. But how many types of cheese are there?
While there are over 1,800 types of cheese around the world, they are classified into seven categories – fresh cheese with no rind, aged fresh cheese, soft white rind cheeses, semi-soft cheeses, hard cheeses, blue cheeses, and cheeses with added flavor.
There are so many different types of cheese it can be hard to keep track. But that’s part of what makes it so exciting and fun to explore! The next time you’re at the grocery store, take a closer look at the cheese section and see how many types you can identify.
How Many Types of Cheese Can You Find?
Did you know that there are more than 1,800 types of cheese worldwide? That’s a lot of variety to choose from! However, not all cheeses are created equal, and some favorites stand out from the crowd. [1]
These cheeses are further categorized into seven different kinds – fresh cheese with no rind, aged fresh cheese, soft white rind cheeses, semi-soft cheeses, hard cheeses, blue cheeses, and cheeses with added flavor. [2]
There are so many different types of cheese to explore, and it’s a great way to add some variety to your diet. I’m always looking for new cheeses to try, and I recommend you do the same!
Some statistics show that, by 2030, the global cheese market will be US$ 125.82 billion, with a CAGR of 5.8%. [3]
How Much Cheese Do We Eat per Year?
The country that consumes the most cheese is France, with an annual average of 57.9 pounds per person. Germany comes in second, with an average of 53.2 pounds per person, while sharing second place with Germany is Luxembourg. The third place belongs to Iceland, followed by Greece, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Estonia, and the Netherlands. [4]
These cheese-related stats show that Europe has the highest level of per capita cheese consumption.
When it comes to the USA, according to a survey from 2013, 96% of Americans are cheese eaters. [5]
How Much Cheese Does an Average Person Eat Each Year?
The average American eats around 40.2 pounds of cheese per year, according to statistics from 2020, which equates to about one and a half pounds per month. What’s more, that number actually increased by more than five pounds in the last ten years, meaning it could also go even higher. [6]
In addition, domestic consumption of American cheese was about 5.32 billion pounds in 2021, which shows that the annual consumption of cheese in the USA has increased by nearly 1.8 billion pounds since 2010. [7]
While Americans love their cheese, it’s not just them who adore the stuff. The rest of the world also loves cheese, with Europe taking the lead in cheese production and consumption. In fact, Europeans eat around double the amount of cheese that Americans do each year.
Between 2014 and 2021, the cheese consumption per capita within the EU-27 steadily increased from approximately 17.5 kilograms (around 49 pounds) per capita in 2014 to approximately 20.44 kilograms (45 pounds) in 2021. [8]
Who Produces the Most Cheese?
You may wonder which countries are responsible for producing all the delicious cheese we eat yearly. While it might not be surprising to learn that Europe is the biggest cheese producer, with France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, and the UK leading the pack, some of the other producers might surprise you.
As per 2022 statistics, The European Union takes up the first place as the top producer of cheese across the world, with 27 countries producing around 10.55 million metric tons of cheese. [9]
The United States is actually the second-largest producer of cheese in the world, which comes as no surprise since Americans consume an astounding amount of cheese each year.
Who Produces the Most Cheese in the US?
If you’re wondering who produces the most cheese in the US, the answer is Wisconsin, according to stats from 2021. The state produces the most cheese in the US, with an estimated 35 billion pounds of cheese made annually. That’s a whopping 25% of all cheese made in the US! [10]
This makes sense when you consider that Wisconsin’s nickname is America’s Dairyland, as it is home to almost 15,000 dairy farms and counting. It also has over 400 cheesemakers – more than any other state – who produce more than 600 types and styles of award-winning Wisconsin cheeses, such as cheddar, Monterey jack, brick, blue cheese, and more.
So whether you’re looking for a classic mild cheddar or an artisanal specialty blue cheese, chances are you’ll find it in Wisconsin!
Who Eats the Most Cheese?
You might be wondering who eats the most cheese in the world. Well, according to some statistics, Americans and the residents of the EU eat the most cheese per capita. In 2020, cheese consumption in the USA 2020 was around 40 pounds, with shredded cheese having the highest level of unit sales of any type of cheese. [11]
This cheese is primarily used in dishes such as mac&cheese, pizza, and quesadillas.
While Americans may eat a lot of cheese compared to other countries, it’s still way behind countries like France which produce more than twice that amount! In 2021, people in the European Union ate around 45 pounds on average, while the USA and Canada took second and third place, with around 39 and 33 pounds, respectively. [12]
Last year, the European Union consumed about 9.4 million metric tons of cheese, far exceeding consumption numbers in other parts of the world. [13]
What Is the Most Popular Cheese?
When it comes to popular types of cheese around the world, there are a few that stand out. Cheddar is definitely a crowd-pleaser in the United States, followed by mozzarella. Other popular cheeses include Swiss, Brie, Gruyere, and Gouda.
What’s more, mozzarella has started to become the most popular cheese around the world, thanks to the incredible popularity of pizza! In addition, this soft stretched curd cheese with a creamy flavor is also rich in calcium and protein. You can use it in numerous other dishes, like pasta, frittatas, and enchiladas, as well as a perfect pairing for tomatoes and basil in a salad! [14;15]
When traveling abroad, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with local cheese varieties. Some of the most popular cheeses worldwide are Roquefort and Camembert from France, Parmigiano-Reggiano from Italy, British cheddar cheese, and Greek feta.
Of course, every country has its own unique tastes in cheese, so it can be a great experience to explore new flavors when traveling.
List of All Seven Types of Cheeses
With so many different cheeses globally, people had to come up with some kind of classification in order to know which is which and how we should use them. That’s how we got the following seven groups. Let’s have a look at them and see what cheeses belong to each group.
- Fresh Cheese with No Rind – Mozzarella, Cottage Cheese, Chevre, Ricotta, Cream cheese, Queso Fresco, Marscarpone.
- Aged Fresh Cheese – Cheddar, Gouda, Gruyere, Gorgonzola, Manchego, Asiago, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Grana Padano.
- Soft White Rind – Camembert, Truffle Tremor, Brie de Meaux, Chaource, Pierre Robert
- Semi-soft Cheese – Oaxaca cheese, Munster, Provolone, Monterey Jack cheese, Langres, Havarti, and Limburger.
- Hard Cheese – Pecorino, Parmesan, Cheddar, Colby, Manchego, Gruyere.
- Blue Cheese – Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Picos de Europa, Stilton
- Flavor Added Cheese – Almost all of the cheeses mentioned above could have their flavored version, like Pecorino with Truffles, Gouda with Cumin, and Horseradish Cheddar.
