Over 3.1 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2021 - an increase of 134 million since the start of COVID-19 (2024)

On July 12, 2023, the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2023 (published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and jointly produced with fellow UN agencies) provided the latest estimates of the Cost and Affordability of a Healthy Diet (CoAHD) indicators. The data reveal that more than 3.1 billion – or 42 percent of the world’s population – could not afford a healthy diet in 2021. This is an increase of 134 million people compared to 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CoAHD indicators - available through FAOSTAT and the World Bank’s DataBank (Food Prices for Nutrition Dataset Version 2.0) - show that:

Key messages by country income group:

From 2020 to 2021, the cost of a healthy diet increased proportionately more in lower-middle-income countries (6%) compared to upper-middle-income and low-income countries (5%), as well as high-income countries (2%).

In lower-middle-income countries, the surge in the cost of a healthy diet for two consecutive years led to 119 million more people unable to afford a healthy diet in 2021 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Additionally, 23 million more people in low-income countries found the diet unaffordable, while in upper-middle-income and high-income countries, the number of individuals unable to afford the diet decreased by 5 million and 3 million, respectively.

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2023 Report

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)is an annual flagship report jointly prepared by the FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO). It monitors the world’s progress towards ending hunger, achieving food security and improving nutrition, and provides analysis on key challenges for achieving these goals in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It serves as a vital tool for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners working in the field of food and nutrition.

The SOFI 2023 report, launched on July 12, 2023, focuses on “Urbanization, Agrifood Systems Transformation, and Healthy Diets Across the Rural-urban Continuum,” and explores the implications of urbanization for the availability and affordability of healthy diets, food security, and nutrition. Read more about the launch eventhere.

Food Prices for Nutrition

Food Prices for Nutrition, a collaboration betweenthe World Bank,Tufts University, and theInternational Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI),was established to provide national governments, international organizations, and development agencies with accurate metrics on the cost and affordability of diets and food groups. It relies on consumer retail prices and household expenditures to measure people's access to locally available foods necessary for a healthy diet. Since 2020, Food Prices for Nutrition has been collaborating with FAO and supporting the SOFI report on the estimation and publication of the Cost and Affordability of a Healthy Diet (CoAHD) indicators at the global level, relying on the data provided bythe International Comparison Program(ICP)led by the World Bank,the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP)of the World Bank and data provided byFAOSTAT.

Food Prices for Nutrition eLearning course

The online training course “Cost and Affordability of a Healthy Diet and other Indicators” will be launched on the World Bank’s Open Learning Campus in July 2023. It aims to train users in the construction of CoAHD and other indicators. Keep an eye out for our forthcoming data blog introducing the course.

The authors are pleased to acknowledge the contribution ofEdie Purdiein preparing data visualizations for this blog.

FAQs

Over 3.1 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2021 - an increase of 134 million since the start of COVID-19? ›

The data reveal that more than 3.1 billion – or 42 percent of the world's population – could not afford a healthy diet in 2021. This is an increase of 134 million people compared to 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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How many people cannot afford a healthy diet? ›

Around 35% - or 2.8 billion - of the global population could not afford a healthy diet in 2022. Of those, 1.68 billion lived in lower-middle-income countries. The prevalence of unaffordability was highest in low-income countries where 71.5% of the population could not afford a healthy diet.

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What percentage of the population can not afford a healthy diet how many people is this around the world? ›

As a result, some 35.4 percent of the global population, equal to 2.826 billion people, were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2022. That compares to 36.4 percent and 2.823 billion in 2019.

How much has the price of healthy food increased? ›

In the recommended diet, food groups with the highest cost increases from 2019 to 2022 and from 2021 to 2022, respectively, were: vegetables and legumes (20.5% and 34.9%, both p < 0.001), grain (cereal—mostly wholegrain) foods (15.6% and 11.4%, both p < 0.001), fruit (23.4%, p < 0.001 and 8.2%, p = 0.010), and healthy ...

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Is it really more expensive to eat healthy food? ›

It's a common belief that eating healthy is too expensive. In 2013, the Harvard School of Public Health analyzed 27 studies and found that it cost an average of $1.50 more per day to eat healthy.

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Why do low income people eat unhealthy? ›

Affordability also influences access to foods that support healthy dietary patterns. Low-income groups tend to rely on foods that are cheap and convenient to access but are often low in nutrients.

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How many people Cannot afford health? ›

Health care access and affordability are a challenge for many Californians. Notably, roughly 3.2 million Californians lack access to comprehensive health insurance.

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Did COVID make food prices go up? ›

As a result, public spending in other sectors and food supply was disrupted, which directly and indirectly increased undernourishment. In sum, COVID-19 affected both supply and demand of food markets, resulting in higher food prices, leading to food insecurity and poverty in many developing and emerging countries.

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What is causing the increase in food prices? ›

U.S. food prices rose by 25 percent from 2019 to 2023

Food price increases in 2020–21 were largely driven by shifting consumption patterns and supply chain disruptions resulting from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

What would happen if healthy food was cheaper? ›

In a presentation at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology/Lifestyle meeting, they reported that a 10% drop in prices could prevent 515,000 heart-related deaths and 675,000 heart attacks and strokes by 2035. That amounts to about one more serving of fruits or vegetables a week.

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Why is eating healthy cheap? ›

When produce is in season it is at its cheapest, as well as its tastiest and most nutritious. It's also often cheaper to purchase fruits and vegetables such as apples, oranges, grapefruit, potatoes, and onions by the bag, not by the piece—as long as you'll be able to eat it all before it spoils.

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Why is junk food cheaper than healthy food? ›

In contrast, Van Rens argued, ultra-processed food items — which aren't perishable like fresh produce — are becoming cheaper. “Junk food is cheap because you can keep it forever. You can buy it in bulk, you can produce it in bulk, you can deliver it when it's cheap to deliver it,” he said.

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Why is it so hard to eat healthy in America? ›

Part of the problem, according to the CDC, is access to healthy food. Food is all around people, but much of it isn't healthy. Grocery stores have aisles and aisles of foods packed with sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. Only a fraction of store space is devoted to healthy vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

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What percentage of people do not eat healthy? ›

According to a recent study, America may be filled with couch potatoes. The study, conducted by Oregon State University researchers, assessed data from more than 4,700 people who participated in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Survey.

What percentage of people can't afford food? ›

Americans are struggling to afford enough food. As of October 2023, 53.7% of American adults were able to access and afford the food they wanted all the time. One out of every eight American adults is struggling to afford enough food.

What percentage of people don t have access to healthy food? ›

The 2023 prevalence of food insecurity (13.5 percent) was statistically significantly higher than the 2022 prevalence of 12.8 percent and significantly higher than the food insecurity prevalence observed from 2015 through 2022 and statistically lower than the levels observed from 2010 through 2014.

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How many people are affected by poor diet? ›

“Poor diet is associated with 1 in 5 deaths worldwide, according to a new, large study. That's equivalent to 11 million deaths a year, making unhealthy eating habits responsible for more deaths than tobacco and high blood pressure…” (Welch, 4/3).