Infographic: Household spending percentage for food

food cost chart w e
Click image for larger version. Source: David MacLennan, Cargill chairman and CEO

Today, there are more than 7 billion people on the planet. And although undernourishment remains an issue for about 11 percent of us, it’s not because we fail to produce enough calories. Poverty determines whether people get enough to eat. But on this front, too, there is hope. Food is becoming cheaper in most countries, including developing countries, where food has traditionally made up a higher portion of the average family’s income. During recent decades, the downward trend of these lines indicates a massive rise in the global standard of living. In particular, China and India, which represent a significant part of the world’s population, have seen dramatically lower food costs relative to income.

Click image for larger version. Source: David MacLennan, Cargill chairman and CEO
Click image for larger version. Source: David MacLennan, Cargill chairman and CEO
{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }}
{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }}
{{ options.labels.newReviewButton }}
{{ userData.canReview.message }}

Related Articles

Infographic: Global regulatory and health research agencies on whether glyphosate causes cancer

Infographic: Global regulatory and health research agencies on whether glyphosate causes cancer

Does glyphosate—the world's most heavily-used herbicide—pose serious harm to humans? Is it carcinogenic? Those issues are of both legal and ...

Most Popular

d-b
Blocked arteries, kidney stones, nausea, constipation, fatigue: Long list of health problems caused by too much vitamin D 
Screenshot-PM-24
Viewpoint: The herbicide glyphosate isn’t perfect. Banning it would be far worse.
79d03212-2508-45d0-b427-8e9743ff6432
Viewpoint: The Casey Means hustle—Wellness woo opportunism dressed up as medical wisdom
ChatGPT-Image-Mar-10-2026-01_39_01-PM
Viewpoint—“Miracle molecule” debunked: Why acemannan supplements don’t work
ChatGPT-Image-Apr-30-2026-12_21_05-PM-2
The tech billionaires behind the immortality movement
ChatGPT-Image-Mar-27-2026-11_27_05-AM
The myths of “process”: What science says about the “dangers’ of synthetic products and ultra-processed foods
ChatGPT-Image-Apr-30-2026-05_00_48-PM
Wellness grifter physician turned wellness influencer out as surgeon general nominee

Sorry. No data so far.

glp menu logo outlined

Get news on human & agricultural genetics and biotechnology delivered to your inbox.