Why count calories at the national level?

 

Average daily food supply is a snapshot of a country’s entire food system: crop yields, imports, subsidies, and consumer preferences. When availability climbs well above the 2,000–2,500 calories (kcal) most adults need, it can foreshadow rising public-health costs such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Conversely, a lower figure flags lingering food insecurity or supply-chain gaps.

This infographic ranks the top 40 countries with the largest food supplies. Data for this visualization come from Our World in Data. They processed 2022 figures from the UN to track the average daily calories in a country’s food output, a measure that factors in imports and local production. Because the metric captures supply rather than plate-level intake, it also hints at the scale of food lost in retail and households, an often-overlooked environmental cost.

 

The U.S. lands in third place at 3,875 kcal, underscoring its expansive agricultural system and large portion norms.

 Saudi Arabia’s ninth-place finish (3,707 kcal) is noteworthy. A heavy dependence on food imports and government-backed food subsidies help maintain one of the world’s most calorie-rich supplies despite limited arable land. However, high availability often correlates with rising obesity rates.

Adult obesity now exceeds 30% in both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, highlighting the health trade-offs of abundant food systems.

 

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