While some may say there is a religious or cultural reason to the consumption rates, there is definitely an economic piece to it. When I switched to being a vegetarian 4 years ago, I faced a lot of concern over how I would be able to get the right protein and nutrition. Watching documentaries and reading a lot about the cause, I came to learn how much misinformation has been pushed out and how various organizations can control the narrative. These companies have more to gain by targeting the richer countries.
Beyond health benefits, eating less meat can result in a significantly smaller carbon footprint, use less water, reduce pollution. I am not one to push being vegetarian or vegan onto anyone, everyone should do what they believe is right for them, but it is eye-opening to start to unlearn the misinformation that has been passed down.