The line graph illustrates the average amount of cheese consumed per person in four parts of the UK, namely England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, from 1980 to 2020.
Overall, cheese consumption declined in England and Scotland, whereas Wales and Northern Ireland experienced an overall increase. England remained the largest consumer throughout the period, while Northern Ireland recorded the lowest figure initially.
In 1980, cheese consumption in England stood at approximately 110 kg per person. This figure declined gradually over the following decades, reaching exactly 100 kg in 2000, before falling further to around 88 kg in 2020. Scotland, meanwhile, recorded approximately 84 kg per person in 1980. Its consumption rose sharply to just over 100 kg in 1990, after which it declined steadily, reaching around 55 kg by 2020.
In Wales, consumption started at approximately 44 kg per person in 1980 and increased steadily throughout the period. It reached about 77 kg in 2010 and then remained relatively stable, rising slightly to around 78 kg in 2020. Similarly, Northern Ireland had the lowest consumption in 1980, at only around 10 kg per person. This figure increased steadily to approximately 30 kg in 2000 before rising sharply to about 54 kg in 2010. By 2020, consumption had increased further to around 58 kg, slightly surpassing Scotland.