The United States manufactures more than 2 billion pounds of chocolate each year and is one of the leading producers of chocolate in the world.
However, Americans consume only 10 pounds per capita each year, a low figure compared to other countries, says Chocolatier magazine.Leading the way is the Swiss consumer, who eats more than 22 pounds per capita each year. Chocolate lovers in other European countries consume about 12-14 pounds of chocolate per capita each year.
The least amount of chocolate is consumed in the African nations, where the hot climate purportedly diminishes the chocolate appetite. However, hot climate notwithstanding, sales of chocolate in Saudi Arabia have risen since the advent of the country's oil bonanza.