America Spends Less On Food Than Other Countries

It has been revealed that Pakistani families spend the largest percentage of their income on food each year, according to a study of spending habits in 22 countries by the USDA Economic Research Service. The United States fell at last place on this list, with families spending only 6.6 percent of their household income on food. The study did not include eating out.

The countries that spent the highest percentage of household income on food included Pakistan at 47.7%, Cameroon at 45.9%, and Egypt at 42.7%. Lowest spending countries after the United States were the United Kingdom at 9.1%, Canada at 9.6%, and Germany at 10.9%.

The study brought to light a few key points about food expenditures and malnutrition around the world. Interestingly enough, there seemed to be a correlation between high spending on food and malnutrition. For example, Pakistan, the largest spender, also has one of the largest percentages of malnutrition in children of 5 years old. Of children under five in Pakistan, 45.4% are malnourished. The correlation between malnourishment and food costs has not yet been fully researched.