Over 3.1 billion people – 42 % of the world’s population – were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2021, according to the United Nations. The cost of a healthy diet worldwide rose 6.7 % from 2019 to 2021. This increase hit lower-middle-income countries the most, with the highest costs being in Latin America and the Caribbean, followed by Asia. (Take a look at the countries with the most and least affordable groceries.)
What is a healthy diet? The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in conjunction with the World Health Organization, notes that “Healthy dietary patterns come in all shapes and sizes, reflecting different cultures, traditions, preferences and practices, but all share the key characteristic of supporting the highest level of health and well-being.” Consumption of micro- and macronutrients and intake of sodium, carbohydrates, fats and trans-fats, and free sugars, among other factors, are considered.
To find the countries with the highest cost of a healthy diet, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the report The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023 from the FAO. The cost of a healthy diet is listed in PPP (purchasing power parity) dollars per person per day. GDP per capita in current U.S. dollars, average life expectancy at birth, and population data came from the World Bank.
In 2021, Asia was the continent on which the most people – 1.9 billion – couldn’t afford a healthy diet, while Africa had the highest proportion of people unable to afford one at 78%. In comparison, the proportion in North America and Europe – where the cost of a healthy diet is $3.19 – is 1%. (Africa is home to a vast majority of the poorest countries in the world.)
Of the 30 countries in which healthy diets cost the most, Nigeria has the largest proportion of residents unable to afford one (93.5%), followed by Liberia, Haiti, Guinea, Angola, and Lesotho. On the other hand, countries where most residents can afford a healthy diet include the South Korea, Croatia, and Japan – three countries with some of the world’s highest GDPs per capita as well as the highest life expectancies.
30. Iran
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.17 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 30% (est. 26.4 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $4,388 (#83 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 73.875 years (#54 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 87,290,193
29. Myanmar
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.21 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 73.8% (est. 39.7 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $1,096 (#123 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 65.672 years (#104 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 53,423,198
28. Vietnam
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.22 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 21% (est. 20.5 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $4,164 (#87 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 73.618 years (#60 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 96,648,685
27. Ghana
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.24 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 77.4% (est. 25.4 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $2,176 (#107 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 63.795 years (#109 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 32,180,401
26. Sri Lanka
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.27 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 55.5% (est. 12.3 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $3,354 (#94 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 76.399 years (#37 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 21,919,000
25. Croatia
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.29 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 1.8% (est. 0.1 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $18,413 (#37 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 76.42439 years (#36 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 4,047,680
24. Lao People’s Democratic Republic
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.31 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 74% (est. 5.5 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $2,088 (#109 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 68.061 years (#93 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 7,319,399
23. Nigeria
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.33 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 93.5% (est. 199.5 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $2,184 (#106 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 52.676 years (#140 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 208,327,405
22. Serbia
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.35 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 10.9% (est. 0.7 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $9,394 (#58 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 72.73073 years (#67 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 6,899,126
21. Fiji
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.36 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 63.7% (est. 0.6 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $5,317 (#79 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 67.114 years (#97 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 920,422
20. Philippines
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.36 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 74% (est. 84.3 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $3,499 (#93 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 69.266 years (#90 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 112,190,977
19. Albania
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.39 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 15.9% (est. 0.4 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $6,803 (#69 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 76.463 years (#35 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 2,837,849
18. Guinea
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.44 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 89.1% (est. 12.1 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $1,532 (#115 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 58.892 years (#135 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 13,205,153
17. Liberia
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.45 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 92.8% (est. 4.8 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $755 (#132 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 60.747 years (#124 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 5,087,584
16. Thailand
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.46 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 18% (est. 12.9 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $6,909 (#68 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 78.715 years (#29 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 71,475,664
15. Trinidad and Tobago
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.52 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 9.9% (est. 0.2 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $18,222 (#39 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 72.971 years (#63 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 1,518,147
14. South Africa
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.57 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 66.7% (est. 39.6 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $6,776 (#70 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 62.341 years (#115 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 58,801,927
13. Lesotho
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.62 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 87.9% (est. 2 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $1,107 (#121 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 53.062 years (#139 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 2,254,100
12. Nepal
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.62 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 76.4% (est. 22.9 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $1,337 (#117 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 68.45 years (#92 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 29,348,627
11. Panama
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.69 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 17% (est. 0.7 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $17,358 (#40 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 76.223 years (#40 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 4,294,396
10. Indonesia
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.73 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 70.8% (est. 193.7 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $4,788 (#82 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 67.57 years (#95 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 271,857,970
9. Haiti
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $4.81 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 92.6% (est. 10.6 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $1,748 (#110 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 63.192 years (#112 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 11,306,801
8. Angola
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $5.03 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 88.1% (est. 30.4 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $2,999 (#98 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 61.643 years (#119 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 33,428,486
7. Guyana
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $5.12 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 18.5% (est. 0.1 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $18,990 (#35 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 65.673 years (#103 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 797,202
6. Bhutan
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $5.34 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 45.2% (est. 0.4 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $3,266 (#95 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 71.815 years (#74 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 772,506
5. South Korea
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $5.34 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 1.5% (est. 0.8 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $32,255 (#23 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 83.52683 years (#3 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 51,836,239
4. Japan
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $5.64 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 2% (est. 2.5 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $33,815 (#22 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 84.44561 years (#1 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 126,261,000
3. Mongolia
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $5.68 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 64.1% (est. 2.1 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $4,947 (#80 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 70.975 years (#78 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 3,294,335
2. Suriname
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $6.09 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 58.6% (est. 0.4 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $5,858 (#77 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 70.274 years (#82 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 607,065
1. Jamaica
> Cost of a healthy diet, 2021: $7.03 per person per day
> People unable to afford a healthy diet: 62.6% (est. 1.8 million)
> GDP per capita, 2022: $6,047 (#75 highest of 141 countries)
> Life expectancy at birth, 2022: 70.5 years (#79 highest of 141 countries)
> Population, 2022: 2,820,436