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    Global Average Food Waste

    Last updated: February 4, 2026

    121 kg

    kg/year

    The global average food waste is approximately 121 kg per person per year at the consumer level. This amounts to nearly 1 billion tonnes of food wasted annually — roughly one-third of all food produced. Household waste accounts for 61% of the total.

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    Historical Trend

    Source: UNEP

    Global Average Food Waste by Country

    Country Value (kg/year) ↓Source
    Nigeria189UNEP
    United States120EPA
    Saudi Arabia105SFDA
    Australia102FIAL
    France85ADEME
    United Kingdom77WRAP
    Germany75BMEL
    Pakistan74UNEP
    China64CAS
    Brazil60UNEP
    India50UNEP
    Japan48MAFF

    Why This Average Exists

    Food waste contributes to 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and represents a massive economic loss of ~$1 trillion annually, while 783 million people face hunger.

    Factors That Affect Global Average Food Waste

    • Consumer behavior
    • Supply chain efficiency
    • Storage infrastructure
    • Date labeling confusion
    • Portion sizes
    • Retail standards

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Methodology & Data Sources

    The data presented on this page is compiled from publicly available datasets published by international organizations including the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations, NASA, and national statistical agencies.

    Global averages are calculated using population-weighted or arithmetic means depending on the metric. Country-level data reflects the most recent available figures, typically from 2024–2024. Where gaps exist, the latest available data point is used.

    All figures are subject to revision as source organizations update their datasets. For the most authoritative data, we encourage consulting the original sources linked in the table above.

    Further Reading