A visualization based on FAO and World Bank data shows that 2.6 billion people globally cannot afford a healthy diet defined as 2,330 kcal per day with sufficient portions from six food groups.
A healthy diet is defined as 2,330 kcal per day with adequate portions of six food groups, and the cost figures are expressed in purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the situation is especially dire: 72.1% of the population — approximately 896.5 million people — are unable to meet the daily cost of a healthy diet, set at $4.37 per person (in PPP terms).
By contrast, Northern America sees only 16.7 million people affected, with an average daily healthy diet cost of $3.85, the lowest among regions.
Experts warn that these disparities reflect systemic issues in agriculture, supply chains, income inequality, and food price inflation, with Africa bearing the brunt.
