According to one recent survey, pizza is our favorite thing to eat, followed by steak. Be that as it may, the definitive American foods — those that virtually define our national cuisine, and that are indelibly associated with summer — are hot dogs and hamburgers. (Both, incidentally, are among the foods you probably didn’t know were named after places — at least if we give dogs their more formal name, frankfurters.)
How much do we like burgers and dogs? We eat an estimated 50 billion burgers and 20 billion dogs per year — about 156 and 70 per person, respectively.
Chicago likes to call itself the hot dog capital of the world, but in fact Los Angeles consumes more wieners than any other city — about 31 million pounds annually — beating out second and third place New York and Philadelphia. Chicago is number five on the list.
During peak hot dog season, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Americans eat a total of around 7 billion franks. According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, on the Fourth of July alone, 150 million dogs get consumed — enough to stretch between L.A. and Washington D.C. more than five times.
No comparable organization seems to track burger stats for Independence Day, but if roughly 140 million burgers are eaten per day, based on per capita consumption, and we eat two-and-a-half times as many burgers as dogs overall, that could mean that the burger tally is around 375 million burgers that day.
With the Fourth of July rapidly approaching, it’s clearly time to fire up those grills. We’ve got a lot of eating to do — even if they are among the unhealthiest foods you can put in your body.
Click here to learn how many hot dogs and hamburgers Americans eat in every state.
Click here to see our full methodology.
50. Vermont
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $134
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 200 (17th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 245 (14th highest)
> Population, 2017: 623,657
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49. New Hampshire
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $135
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 176 (4th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 221 (22nd highest)
> Population, 2017: 1,342,795
48. New Jersey
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $176
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 181 (7th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 250 (12th highest)
> Population, 2017: 9,005,644
47. Massachusetts
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $177
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 179 (5th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 221 (22nd highest)
> Population, 2017: 6,859,819
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46. Maine
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $188
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 184 (8th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 260 (9th highest)
> Population, 2017: 1,335,907
45. Pennsylvania
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $192
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 181 (7th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 289 (3rd highest)
> Population, 2017: 12,805,537
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44. Connecticut
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $197
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 195 (12th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 260 (9th highest)
> Population, 2017: 3,588,184
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43. New York
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $218
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 219 (24th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 221 (22nd highest)
> Population, 2017: 19,849,399
42. Rhode Island
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $218
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 200 (17th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 279 (4th highest)
> Population, 2017: 1,059,639
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41. Maryland
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $235
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 173 (2nd lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 207 (21st lowest)
> Population, 2017: 6,052,177
40. Florida
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $247
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 192 (11th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 212 (23rd lowest)
> Population, 2017: 20,984,400
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39. Iowa
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $248
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 229 (15th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 207 (21st lowest)
> Population, 2017: 3,145,711
38. Delaware
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $251
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 176 (4th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 250 (12th highest)
> Population, 2017: 961,939
37. Idaho
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $257
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 219 (24th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 192 (12th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 1,716,943
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36. North Dakota
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $261
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 213 (22nd lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 183 (5th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 755,393
35. South Dakota
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $261
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 248 (9th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 197 (16th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 869,666
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34. Arizona
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $263
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 229 (15th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 279 (4th highest)
> Population, 2017: 7,016,270
33. Georgia
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $268
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 221 (22nd highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 226 (20th highest)
> Population, 2017: 10,429,379
32. Utah
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $269
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 229 (15th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 188 (8th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 3,101,833
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31. California
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $272
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 264 (3rd highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 207 (21st lowest)
> Population, 2017: 39,536,653
30. Minnesota
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $273
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 216 (23rd lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 197 (16th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 5,576,606
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29. Washington
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $274
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 256 (5th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 188 (8th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 7,405,743
28. Virginia
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $275
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 197 (14th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 236 (18th highest)
> Population, 2017: 8,470,020
27. North Carolina
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $279
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 219 (24th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 279 (4th highest)
> Population, 2017: 10,273,419
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26. Colorado
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $284
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 237 (12th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 197 (16th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 5,607,154
25. Michigan
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $287
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 224 (20th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 245 (14th highest)
> Population, 2017: 9,962,311
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24. Wisconsin
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $288
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 208 (20th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 221 (22nd highest)
> Population, 2017: 5,795,483
23. South Carolina
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $290
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 203 (19th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 279 (4th highest)
> Population, 2017: 5,024,369
22. New Mexico
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $298
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 248 (9th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 192 (12th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 2,088,070
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21. West Virginia
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $302
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 171 (the lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 481 (the highest)
> Population, 2017: 1,815,857
20. Louisiana
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $303
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 203 (19th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 183 (5th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 4,684,333
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19. Illinois
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $304
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 213 (22nd lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 317 (2nd highest)
> Population, 2017: 12,802,023
18. Alabama
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $309
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 197 (14th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 255 (11th highest)
> Population, 2017: 4,874,747
17. Ohio
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $309
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 192 (11th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 264 (8th highest)
> Population, 2017: 11,658,609
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16. Nevada
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $310
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 267 (the highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 216 (25th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 2,998,039
15. Alaska
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $313
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 229 (15th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 207 (21st lowest)
> Population, 2017: 739,795
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14. Oregon
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $319
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 253 (6th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 188 (8th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 4,142,776
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13. Indiana
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $321
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 192 (11th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 240 (16th highest)
> Population, 2017: 6,666,818
12. Montana
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $327
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 232 (14th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 178 (3rd lowest)
> Population, 2017: 1,050,493
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11. Missouri
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $327
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 229 (15th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 216 (25th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 6,113,532
10. Kansas
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $331
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 237 (12th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 197 (16th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 2,913,123
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9. Mississippi
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $332
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 200 (17th lowest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 178 (3rd lowest)
> Population, 2017: 2,984,100
8. Nebraska
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $337
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 248 (9th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 226 (20th highest)
> Population, 2017: 1,920,076
7. Wyoming
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $342
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 251 (7th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 149 (the lowest)
> Population, 2017: 579,315
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6. Texas
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $344
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 264 (3rd highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 192 (12th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 28,304,596
5. Oklahoma
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $350
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 267 (the highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 212 (23rd lowest)
> Population, 2017: 3,930,864
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4. Tennessee
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $354
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 224 (20th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 231 (19th highest)
> Population, 2017: 6,715,984
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3. Arkansas
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $360
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 219 (24th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 192 (12th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 3,004,279
2. Kentucky
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $361
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 221 (22nd highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 240 (16th highest)
> Population, 2017: 4,454,189
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1. Hawaii
> Total sales per state resident at burger & hotdog restaurants: $379
> Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 251 (7th highest)
> Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 202 (17th lowest)
> Population, 2017: 1,427,538
Methodology
To determine hot dog and hamburger consumption by state, 24/7 Tempo constructed an estimate based on data from Google Trends, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
First, data on sales at full- and limited-service restaurants classified as having a principal menu type as “hamburgers” from the Census Bureau’s 2012 Economic Census was adjusted for population using data from the Census Bureau’s 2012 American Community Survey.
Total sales at hamburger restaurants per capita were then converted to number of hamburger and hot dog units sold using $3.14 as the price of an average restaurant hamburger and $2.00 as the price of an average hot dog. The percentage of sales attributable to either hamburgers or hot dogs in each state was based on Google Trends data comparing the search popularity of the term “hamburger” to the search popularity for the term “hot dog” in each state.
To estimate the number of hamburgers and hot dogs consumed at home in addition to at restaurants, the estimated number of hamburgers and hot dogs consumed at restaurants per capita was adjusted by the ratio of U.S. food sales at full- and limited-service restaurants to total U.S. food sales at and away from home with data from the USDA.
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