In this article, we will list the Top 20Countries With the Most McDonald’s Restaurants. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of the fas-food industry, see Top 5 Countries With the Most McDonald’s Restaurants.
Fast food chains originating in the United States have taken over the world in the past few decades. Most of us are aware of fast food restaurant chains such as McDonald’s and KFC, no matter what part of the world we live in. Such fast-food restaurants have been non-selective in their expansion. They have laid their foundation everywhere, from the United States to Western Europe, and Middle East Asia.
American fast-food chains have dominated the European fast-food market. Nine out of ten key players in the European Fast food markets are American brands. At the same time, the presence of European fast-food restaurants in the United States is non-existent.
Fast food became popular in the United States because of the highway systems that were developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Americans started traveling more which meant that they needed a quick fix for their hunger. Fast food restaurants gave them fulfilling, budget-friendly, and quick meal options.
The concept of fast food is as American as it gets. America is the largest consumer of fast food. The taste is suitable for all sorts of people. It does not have risky flavor and spices. Fast food restaurants prepare and serve food within minutes, suiting the busy lifestyle of most Americans. Most fast food restaurants also deliver food to the home. Fast food restaurant companies like McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD), Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM), and Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (NYSE:DPZ) have established themselves in the American markets. So, it is very difficult for new restaurants from around the world to break through in the US.
While it is difficult for new players around the world to break into the US market and get a sizeable market share, the growth and size of the US fast food market attract many startups to the US. One such example is Operation Falafel, a Dubai-based startup chain that is trying to break into the United States.
McDonald’s is arguably the most popular fast-food restaurant in the world. It is present all over the world and is one of the leading fast food brands in the United States, which also tops our list of the countries with most McDonald’s restaurants. The first McDonald’s was opened in San Bernardino, California, in 1940. Since then, Mcdonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) has not looked back. Today, you can find Mcdonald's in all states of the United States and 120 countries around the world. If you want to find out about the top 3 countries with the most McDonald’s, we suggest you keep reading. Unsurprisingly, the United States accounts for 38% of total McDonald’s restaurants in the top 20 countries with the most McDonald’s.
McDonald’s started as a drive-in restaurant. Its success was owed to its assembly line process, which enabled it to serve fast food within minutes. Franchising helped Mcdonald's expand to the entire world. Since 1955, McDonald’s has been a franchising company, and its franchisee played a major role in its success.
While Mcdonald's has ruled the fast food market all over the world, it faces competition from other American brands. Subway has now taken over Mcdonald's in terms of total restaurants all over the world. However, Subway’s revenue of $15.2 Billion last year is less than McDonald’s $24 Billion.
Top 20 countries With the Most McDonald's Restaurants
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Our Methodology
For accuracy, we relied on the official McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) report. It listed all McDonald’s restaurants around the world by year-end 2022. We also took 2022 year-end population figures of the top 20 countries with the most McDonald’s, to calculate people per McDonald’s outlet.
20 - Malaysia
Number of outlets - 341
People per outlet - 99526
McDonald’s opened its first branch in Malaysia on Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur in 1982. After eight years of opening in Malaysia, it opened its first-ever drive-through restaurant in the country. Since Malaysia is a Muslim country, McDonald’s serves halal food. The menu is catered to the local taste, and pork is omitted from it.
19 - South Africa
Number of outlets - 346
People per outlet - 173104
Mcdonald's is available in all of the nine provinces of South Africa. It entered the South African market in November 1995. Initially, McDonald’s faced tough competition from fast food brands in South Africa. However, it has 13% of the market share by revenue today. This makes McDonald’s the second-largest fast-food brand in South Africa, with Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM)’s KFC being the first.
18 - Mexico
Number of outlets - 366
People per outlet - 348372
McDonald’s opened in Mexico on October 29, 1983, in Pedregal. Since then, it has opened 366 branches throughout the country. It is one of the leading fast-food brands in Mexico, along with Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM)’s KFC.
17- Saudi Arabia
Number of outlets - 371
People per outlet - 98137
McDonald’s first opened in Saudia Arabia in 1994, in Jeddah. Today, it is available in all the major cities, such as Medina, Makkah, and Tabuk. McDonald’s is the leading fast-food restaurant in Saudi Arabia in terms of revenue and sales. In addition, it serves only halal food. All McDonald’s franchises in the southern and western regions of Saudia Arabia are owned by Reza Food Services.
16 - South Korea
Number of outlets - 399
People per outlet - 129864
South Korea ranks number 16 on the list of countries with the most McDonald’s. McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in South Korea in 1998 in Apgujeong-dong. This coincided with the country’s Olympic fever, which turned out in McDonald’s favor. McDonald’s has since then expanded throughout South Korea. It has tailored its menu according to the taste of locals. South Korean McDonald’s serves items suited to local tastes, such as the Bulgogi Burger, which you won't find in any other country.
15 - Taiwan
Number of outlets - 409
People per outlet - 58419
McDonald’s opened its gates to the Taiwanese in 1984. It has a surprisingly large number of restaurants in Taiwan in comparison to the total population. Taiwan has 58419 people per McDonald’s outlet, which is less than Poland, Spain, Italy, Philippines, Brazil, and China, all of which rank higher in terms of total number of outlets.
14 - India
Number of outlets - 512
People per outlet - 2784718
The first McDonald’s restaurant in India was opened in Bandra, Mumbai in 1996. In the next 12 years, 50 McDonald’s restaurants opened up across India. Today, India has 512 McDonald’s restaurants, and it is the second-largest fast-food chain in terms of revenue.
13- Poland
Number of outlets - 517
People per outlet - 77093
McDonald’s entered the Polish market in 1992 when it opened its first-ever restaurant in Warsaw. On its opening day, McDonald’s branch served 30,000 customers, setting a record for the most customers served on the first day, as noted by Kafkadesk.org. McDonald’s is the largest fast food brand in Poland in terms of number of outlets. It is followed by KFC as the second-largest fast-food brand.
12- Spain
Number of outlets - 580
People per outlet - 81998
Coming in at number 12 in the list of countries with the most McDonald’s, Spain seems to love this restaurant. Mcdonald’s currently enjoys a 40% market share in Spain. It began its operations in Spain in 1981 when it set up its first restaurant in Madrid.
11- Italy
Number of outlets - 669
People per outlet - 88247
Italy has 669 McDonald’s restaurants, making it the 11th country in terms of countries with most McDonald’s restaurants. Italy’s first McDonald's opened in Rome in 1986. McDonald’s opening in Italy stirred controversies surrounding fast food and gave way to the ‘slow food movement’. Yet, it has been able to establish its footing in Italy with one restaurant for 88247 people.
10 - Philippines
Number of outlets - 705
People per outlet - 163913
The first McDonald’s in the Philippines opened in 1981 in Morayta, Manila. Today, 100% of McDonald’s restaurants in the Philippines are locally owned. McDonald’s in the Philippines maintains a menu catered to the local taste. Some of the unique items you can find here include McSpaghetti and Chicken McDo.
9 - Australia
Number of outlets - 1,028
People per outlet - 25553
The first Australian Mcdonald's opened in the suburbs of Sydney back in 1971. Today, 1028 McDonald’s restaurants operate in Australia, making it 9th among countries with the most McDonald’s restaurants. 80% of the McDonald’s restaurants in Australia are owned by local businesses, and the remainder belong to the McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD). Today, it is one of the most visited restaurants in Australia.
8 - Brazil
Number of outlets - 1,084
People per outlet - 199652
McDonald’s opened its doors to Brazilians in 1979. Fast forward to today, it has more than 1000 restaurants operating in Brazil. McDonald’s is one of the leading restaurants in the food services industry in Brazil, along with Starbucks and KFC.
7- United Kingdom
Number of outlets - 1,397
People per outlet - 48504
With 1,397 restaurants, the UK comes in at number seven in our list of the top countries with the most Mcdonald’s restaurants. The First McDonald’s in the UK was opened in 1974 on Powis Street, Woolwich. Today, there are more than 1300 McDonald’s restaurants in the UK, with one restaurant for every 48504 people. With new players and alternatives emerging in the market, McDonald's share in the food services industry in the UK is decreasing. However, it is still the leading brand in the food service industry in the Kingdom.
6 - Germany
Number of outlets - 1,425
People per outlet - 58449
Germany has the sixth highest number of McDonald’s restaurants.The first McDonald’s in Germany opened in Munich in December 1971. Initially, it offered six food and drink items, but the number has since then grown to over 100 food items.
