Thanksgiving Statistics By Dinner, Sales, Travels, Expense and Facts

Introduction

Thanksgiving Statistics: Thanksgiving states to be a universal holiday that is followed on different dates in October and November in countries like Canada, the United States, Saint Lucia, and Liberia, and in some places like Brazil and Germany, it’s celebrated unofficially. It is also observed in Norfolk Island, which is part of Australia. The holiday started as a day to give thanks for the harvest and the good things from the past year. Many countries have similar harvest festivals in the fall.

Although Thanksgiving has religious and cultural roots, it is mostly celebrated today as a non-religious holiday. We will shed more light on Thanksgiving Statistics through this article.

Editor’s Choice

• In 2023, the average cost of ingredients for a Thanksgiving dinner for ten people was $58.08.
• Although prices dropped in 2023 and 2024, the cost is still $11.18 higher than it was in 2020.
• The turkey, being the main dish, usually takes up the largest part of the cost.
• The average price for a 16-pound (7.26 kg) turkey before Thanksgiving was $25.67.
• Thanksgiving Statistics showed that about 74% of people in the US were planning to buy a turkey on sale.
• In 2024, 37% of households said their Thanksgiving plans were affected by high grocery prices.
• Compared to 2023, higher-income groups are less likely to celebrate. Among people earning $100,000 or more, the number of those not celebrating increased by 10%, reaching 18%.
• Almost 56% of Americans say offering meat-free options for Thanksgiving is essential.
• Thanksgiving Statistics state that Thankful toasts include Wine, Beer, and Whiskey.
• In 2021, Canada harvested 5.69 million tons of potatoes. In 2022, farmers planted 385,128 acres of potatoes, with more than 20% of that area in Prince Edward Island.
• About 7% of people would prefer to celebrate Thanksgiving at a restaurant, although they sometimes don’t know where to go.
• In August 2022, Canada produced 281,000 tons of wheat, which made 210,000 tons of wheat flour. Wheat production is expected to increase this year, which is good news due to previous price hikes.
• According to Nielsen, Americans are expected to buy 365 million pounds of turkey, 193 million pounds of potatoes, and 77 million pounds of ham during Thanksgiving week.
• In Canada, Thanksgiving is observed on the second Monday in October, while the US celebrates it in November.
• Thanksgiving statistics show that Americans spend about $949 million every year on turkeys for the holiday.
• Thanksgiving Statistics states that nearly 24% of people say that the high costs can deter them from hosting a Thanksgiving dinner next year.

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Fun Facts About Thanksgiving

• The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 over three days.
• It involved 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians, and only about five women are believed to have attended.
• Turkey wasn’t served at this first Thanksgiving. Instead, they likely ate venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster, eel, fish, pumpkins, and cranberries, but not pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce.
• Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1863, thanks to President Abraham Lincoln. He made it official after Sarah Josepha Hale, who wrote the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” convinced him by writing letters for 17 years.
• The tradition of presidents pardoning turkeys is not entirely clear. While Harry Truman is often thought to be the first to pardon a turkey, he was the first to receive a ceremonial turkey, which he ate. John F. Kennedy was the first president to let a turkey go free, and Richard Nixon sent his turkey to a petting zoo. The tradition of turkey pardoning was officially started by George H.W. Bush in 1989.
• There are four towns named “Turkey” in the US, located in Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina.
• On Thanksgiving, the average person eats around 4,500 calories.
• This year, over 54 million Americans are expected to travel for Thanksgiving, which is a 4.8% increase from last year.

General Thanksgiving Statistics

• $321 – The average amount a person spends during the five-day Thanksgiving period.
• 10 hours – The time it would take for the average American man to burn off the 4,500 calories from a typical Thanksgiving meal by using a treadmill.
• $27 million – The cost of property damage caused by house fires each Thanksgiving.
• 61% – The percentage of people celebrating Thanksgiving who try to avoid talking about politics during dinner.

(Source: wallethub.com)

• As per Thanksgiving Statistics, almost 3,150 to 4,500 median number of calories consumed on Thanksgiving.
• Americans consume almost 8.3B of calories on Thanksgiving every year from turkey only.
• Nearly 10 hours is taken on average for a male to burn almost 4,500 calories after the Thanksgiving dinner.
• Almost 13% of Americans plan to get takeout from a restaurant or go out to eat for Thanksgiving.
• Thanksgiving Statistics states that $61.17 is the average cost of a 10-person Thanksgiving dinner.
• The world’s most expensive Thanksgiving dinner was $150k, and it was at New York Old Homestead Steakhouse in 2018.
• Nearly 45M estimated number of turkey are killed for Thanksgiving each year.
• Almost 54% of Americans say that they will try adding new side dish recipes to the menu.
• 100k Questions are answered by the Butterball Turkey hotline each November & December.
• 9 average number of guests are present at Thanksgiving dinner, including the household members.

(Source: wallethub.com)

• Nearly 56% of people believe it is important to offer meat-free options during Thanksgiving meals.
• Thanksgiving Statistics state that around 83% of Americans say turkey is their favorite Thanksgiving dish, followed by mashed potatoes at 78%.
• In 2023, the cost of a Thanksgiving meal for ten people is expected to be $61.17, which is lower than $64.05 in 2022.
• To burn off the 4,500 calories consumed in a typical Thanksgiving meal, the average American man would need to spend about ten hours on a treadmill.
• In 2022, Americans spent almost $1 billion on turkey for Thanksgiving.
• On Thanksgiving, people in the US usually eat between 3,000 and 4,500 calories.
• 1 average number of drinks consumed by men on Thanksgiving.
• Women consume 2.4 average number of drinks on Thanksgiving.
• 87% of Americans say that they celebrate Thanksgiving.
• Thanksgiving Statistics states that 60% of Americans plan to host or consider Thanksgiving.

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Thanksgiving Turkey Statistics

• In 2022, the United States produced almost 5.19 billion pounds of turkey for Thanksgiving.
• A survey found that 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving.
• Americans spent nearly $1 billion on turkey for Thanksgiving in 2022.
• Around 77% of all turkeys sold throughout the year are purchased in November, which adds up to about 400 million pounds of turkey.

(Reference: sci-tech-today.com)

• The chart above shows the types of protein that US consumers are planning to have on their Thanksgiving tables in 2023.

1. Turkey makes up the largest portion, with 89.7% of people planning to serve it.
2. Non-turkey birds (such as goose, duck, or game hen) will be on 6.3% of tables.
3. Beef (like prime rib or steak) will be served by 18.8% of people.
4. Pork (mostly ham) is planned for 30.3% of tables.
5. Lamb will be served by 5.6% of people.
6. Fish or other seafood will be on 11.3% of tables.
7. Non-meat proteins (like tofu or beans) will be on 7.3% of tables.
8. Other delicacies will appear on 2.0% of Thanksgiving tables.

• Minnesota, a major turkey-producing state, raises about 40 million turkeys each year.
• Although Thanksgiving is in November, National Turkey Lovers Month is actually in June.
• The next table breaks down how different age groups in the US plan to serve protein at their Thanksgiving dinner in 2023.

• Teenagers were less likely to celebrate Thanksgiving, and those who did were more likely to choose a variety of options for their meals.
• The data shows what percentage of each age group planned to celebrate Thanksgiving with a meal.
• Thanksgiving Statistics state that younger people were more likely to have different types of protein in their meals compared to older generations.
• Non-meat proteins were also more popular among younger people. Around 19.6% of individuals aged 18 to 24 planned to serve a non-meat protein at Thanksgiving dinner, which was higher than in older age groups.

Thanksgiving Holiday Travels In The US Statistics

(Reference: statista.com)

• In 2023, over 70 million people in the US traveled by car for Thanksgiving.
• In comparison, about 5.37 million people flew to their destinations. Both of these numbers were predicted to increase in the next year.

(Reference: statista.com)

• In 2023, 31% of Americans celebrated Thanksgiving only with their immediate family.
• During the 2020 pandemic, nearly 50% of people spent the holiday just with their close family members.

Thanksgiving Dinner Statistics

• On Thanksgiving, people usually eat between 3,150 and 4,500 calories during their meal.
• In total, Americans consume about 7.2 billion calories on Thanksgiving each year, and turkey alone contributes to this number.
• It takes an average man around 10 hours to burn off 4,500 calories.
• About 13% of people in the US plan to order takeout or eat at a restaurant for Thanksgiving.
• The average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people is about $64.05.
• The priciest Thanksgiving dinner ever, which cost nearly $150,000, was served at New York City’s Old Homestead Steakhouse.
• Each year, around 40 million turkeys are slaughtered for Thanksgiving.
• Because turkey prices are rising, 64% of US people are considering other main dishes for their Thanksgiving meal.
• Thanksgiving Statistics states that nearly 54% of Americans plan to try new side dishes for their Thanksgiving dinner.
• The Butterball Turkey Hotline receives over 100,000 questions each November and December.
• Typically, about seven guests, including family, attend a Thanksgiving dinner.

(Reference: sci-tech-today.com)

• The chart above shows where Americans prefer to celebrate Thanksgiving in 2023.
• 54% of people prefer to celebrate Thanksgiving at home.
• Thanksgiving Statistics states that about 35% like to spend Thanksgiving with their relatives.
• Around 11% prefer to celebrate with friends.
• Nearly 7% would like to have Thanksgiving at a restaurant, though some may not know the location.
• About 5% want to spend Thanksgiving volunteering at a homeless shelter.
• Around 3% choose to celebrate at a parade or another public event.

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Sales at Thanksgiving Statistics

(Source: sci-tech-today.com)

• Many families enjoy traditional feasts and purchase large amounts of food like ham, potatoes, cranberries, and other items.

According to Nielsen, shoppers will buy:

• 365 million pounds of turkey a week before Thanksgiving
• 193 million pounds of potatoes
• 77 million pounds of ham during Thanksgiving week

They will also spend:

• Around $137 million on frozen vegetables
• $117 million on frozen desserts
• Nearly $74 million on spices

Thanksgiving statistics show:

• 54% of people in the US are considering adding new side dish recipes to their menus
• 41% of Americans want gravy with their dinner
• Thanksgiving Statistics states that 56% of people prefer meat-free options for their Thanksgiving meal.

Thanksgiving Travel Statistics

• Thanksgiving Statistics states that 63% of people in the survey plan to stay close to home for the holidays.
• Among those traveling, 37.14% will drive, 25.71% will fly, 17.14% want to go on a cruise, 11.43% will take a bus, and 8.57% will travel by train.
• Air travel is coming back after 2020, but many still prefer driving because it allows for social distancing, is often cheaper (especially for longer trips or bigger groups), and lets people bring their pets.
• Speaking of pets, Google searches for “pet-friendly hotels” are up 42.93% since 2012, and searches for “pet-friendly motels” have increased 36.25% in 2023.

(Source: newsroom.aaa.com)

• Short-term rentals for November and December 2021 have increased by 377% compared to 2023 and 91% compared to 2022.
• Many families want to stay together, or remote workers need a change of scenery. The average price for a Thanksgiving rental is $415 per night, which is 19% more expensive than in 2024.
• Outdoor destinations like beaches and ski resorts are the most popular. Vrbo, a vacation rental company, reports a 40% increase in interest for ski trips compared to 2019 and a 31% increase compared to 2023.
• The best day for Thanksgiving air travel is Monday, November 22nd, with only 12% of travelers flying that day.
• Thanksgiving Day, November 25th, is the second-best day, with 14% of bookings. If you leave early, you could be at your destination before dinner time.
• The busiest day is Wednesday, November 24th, with 45% of travelers flying.

(Source: statista.com)

• The weekend after Thanksgiving is also very busy, with 31% flying on Saturday, November 27th, and 57% on Sunday, November 28th.
• Air travel for Thanksgiving 2023 is expected to reach 75% of the 2022 levels, but it’s double what it was.
• According to travel company Hopper, 1.9 million people will fly each day in 2023, compared to 2.5 million in 2021 and 900,000 in 2022.
• The most popular domestic destinations for Thanksgiving 2021 are Orlando, FL, Dallas, TX, and Phoenix, AZ.
• For international trips, the top destinations are Cancun, Mexico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Mexico City, Mexico.

Thanksgiving Fire Statistics

• Thanksgiving is the day with the highest number of home-cooking fires, with more than three times the usual amount.
• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the second and third most common days for fires, with almost twice the average number.
• The main cause of cooking fires and fire-related deaths is leaving cooking unattended. Cooking is responsible for 52% of all home fires, about 36% of fire-related injuries, and 17% of fire deaths in homes.
• In 2022, US fire departments reported about 1,610 cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day, which is a 399% increase from the daily average.

Top Safety Tips:

• Stay in the kitchen while cooking to watch the food.
• Stay in the house while the turkey is cooking and check on it often.
• Keep kids away from the stove. It’s very hot, and they should stay at least 3 feet away.
• Make sure children stay away from hot food and liquids, as steam or splashes can cause serious burns.
• Keep knives out of children’s reach.
• Make sure cords from electric appliances like knives, coffee makers, and mixers aren’t hanging off the counter where children can grab them.
• Store matches and lighters in a high, locked cabinet where kids can’t reach them.
• Never leave kids alone in a room with a lit candle.
• Keep the floor clear of toys, bags, or other items to avoid tripping.
• Check that your smoke alarms are working by pressing the test button.

Conclusion

The main takeaway from the Thanksgiving spending data is that higher food prices made fewer people excited to celebrate, but many still ended up needing to borrow money. Even so, 43% of people planned to travel for Thanksgiving, with 29% expecting to spend more than $500 on travel. When it comes to spending, millennials are leading the way, having the most expensive Thanksgiving gatherings.

On the other hand, baby boomers are spending the least. Thanksgiving Statistics also show that many Americans were looking for ways to save money this Thanksgiving. Some planned to cut back by making fewer dishes or inviting fewer people, while others asked guests to bring food or contribute money.