Globally, calorie availability and the prominence of food in household spending are inversely related

Low-income countries allocate a greater portion of their per capita income to food. As countries become more affluent, more of their disposable income is allocated to other categories. In countries with higher incomes (such as the United States and the United Kingdom), the share of household spending devoted to food purchased for preparing and eating at home is relatively low—less than 10 percent. In lower-income countries (such as Nigeria), at-home food spending can reach nearly 60 percent. Per capita calorie availability follows a reverse trend, with U.S. calorie availability averaging 3,914 calories per person per day in 2023, compared with Nigeria’s at 2,469 calories per person per day.