The cost of a healthy diet has increased by 25 percent over the past five years, placing it beyond the reach of nearly one-third of the world’s population, according to new figures released by the United Nations (UN).
The findings were shared by Máximo Torero, Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), during a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York ahead of the release of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report.
Torero stated that, “The report shows that the global cost of a healthy diet has increased 25 percent in just five years, reaching $4.28 purchasing power parity dollars per person per day. As a result, 2.69 billion people, almost one in every three people in the world, still cannot afford a healthy diet.”
The report said the cost of a healthy diet is unevenly distributed across food groups. Staple foods such as cereals, grains, and beans account for only 13 percent of the total cost, while animal-source foods make up nearly 30 percent. Fruits and vegetables account for 16 percent.
Torero further noted that the report’s main finding was that while calories are relatively inexpensive, nutritious foods remain costly.
“The challenge, therefore, is not to produce enough calories. It is making nutrient-rich foods more affordable, and that’s what will reduce the cost of this healthy diet,” the Chief Economist remarked.
Torero further added that “the two major uncertainties could influence global food prices over the coming year: any disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which could further strain global fertilizer supplies, and the effects of a ‘very strong’ El Niño weather pattern, which is expected to reach its peak toward the end of 2026.”
