From its origins in the Roman world to its global popularity, not least in the United States, pizza has been recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2017. Today, it remains one of the most consumed dishes worldwide.
ADVERTISEMENT17 January marks World Pizza Day, a celebration of a dish with over 2,000 years of history. From Neapolitan and Roman styles to Margherita, diavola, and even potato-topped variations, the world comes together to honor this iconic culinary tradition.
In 2017, UNESCO recognised “the art of Neapolitan pizza makers” as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting pizza’s cultural significance on a global scale.
As for the date, it wasn’t chosen randomly. 17 January coincides with the feast of St. Anthony Abbot, the patron saint of fire and related trades, including machinists, blacksmiths, and, fittingly, pizza makers.
Where is the most pizza consumed in the world? And in Europe?
In Italy, four out of ten families are expected to prepare pizza at home in 2025, according to data from Coldiretti-Ixé. Meanwhile, global pizza turnover in 2024 is projected to reach a record €160 billion, with Italy contributing €15 billion to this figure.
Pizza is a major economic driver in Italy, generating 100,000 jobs nationwide—a number that doubles to 200,000 on weekends. Each year, Italy produces 2.7 billion pizzas, equating to about 46 pizzas per person annually, a statistic that includes all age groups, from infants to the elderly.
Italians’ preferences differ significantly from those of the global market. According to Coldiretti, Italians prioritize higher-quality ingredients and are willing to pay a premium for them.
Interestingly, while pizza is an Italian staple, the world’s largest per capita consumers are Americans, who eat an average of 13 kilograms of pizza per year.
In Europe, on the other hand, Italy is in first place with 7.8 kilos per year, followed by Spain’s 4.3kg, and France and Germany’s 4.2kg and in fifth position the United Kingdom with 4kg.
The rise of food delivery has significantly boosted this already thriving sector: some apps speak of ‘an order every two seconds’. Others point to year-on-year growth in turnover of 20 per cent between 2024 and 2025.
The most and least popular pizzas in the world
According to data from the food web portal TasteAtlas, the Margherita reigns as the most popular pizza in the world, followed by the Montanara and calzones. In sixth place is American-style pizza topped with cheese, vegetables, and tomato sauce. Following that is pepperoni pizza (where ‘pepperoni’ in the US refers to a type of salami) and the iconic ‘New York-style’ pizza, before circling back to fried pizza.
In last place is an Italian pizza: the ‘Mimosa pizza,’ topped with corn and cooked ham. Just above it are the Cuban pizza, the Scottish fried pizza, the Quad City-style pizza (a grilled variation popular in the US), and Canada’s unique pizza-ghetti, which features spaghetti as an additional topping.
How much does pizza cost in Italy?
Pizza has always been a popular dish in the Bel Paese, and this has never changed. On the other hand, inflation and the push for higher quality ingredients have increased the price in Italy and Europe.
A survey by Altroconsumo calculated the average cost of a pizza, a soft drink, and service in various Italian cities. Sassari tops the list as the most expensive city (€14.67), followed by Bolzano, Milan, and Venice. On the more affordable end are Livorno (€8.67), Pescara (€9.18), Naples (€9.63), and Bari (€9.63).
Whatever pizza you love, with or without pineapple, happy World Pizza day.
