We’re On Track to Kill 6 Trillion Animals a Year, Mostly the Smallest Ones

Human diets are shifting—and not in a way that reduces animal suffering. A new report from research group Rethink Priorities, covered by Vox’s Kenny Torrella, warns that by 2033, we could be farming and killing nearly 6 trillion animals annually. That’s not a typo—six trillion. And most of this staggering increase will come from shrimp, fish, and insects.

The trend is simple but brutal: smaller animals mean more individual deaths to satisfy the same appetite. For example, while one cow can yield hundreds of pounds of meat, it takes about 128 chickens, 613 tilapia, or a jaw-dropping 28,500 shrimp to provide the same amount. Now imagine that number multiplied across billions of meals.

But it gets worse. These tiny creatures, particularly shrimp and insects, have far fewer welfare protections—if any. Insects like mealworms and black soldier fly larvae are raised in factory-style trays before being frozen or shredded alive. And while it may sound odd to some, a growing number of scientists believe that these animals might be sentient, capable of feeling pain and pleasure. Research from experts like Jonathan Birch at the London School of Economics suggests insects and crustaceans show behaviors consistent with sentience, such as wound-tending and decision-making.

Yet despite the scale, they remain largely invisible in ethical conversations. As Torrella notes, the animal advocacy movement has historically overlooked fish, shrimp, and insects—just as cows, pigs, and chickens were once ignored during the rise of factory farming in the mid-20th century.

But the insect farming industry is still young. That means we still have a chance to influence its direction. If we care about animal suffering—not just the big and fluffy but all sentient life—then this is the moment to speak up.

Let’s not wait until it’s too late. Choose plant-based, Support better standards, and rethink what compassion means in a world of six trillion silent deaths.

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