The analyses on the correlation between calorie consumption and GDP per capita are often used in economic and social data to analyze the standard of living and welfare of the population.
This topic has attracted the attention of many researchers over the past 50 years:
- 1970s: Studies began with global monitoring of calorie consumption levels and economic growth.
- 1980s and 1990s: During this period, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank began to actively publish detailed reports on calorie consumption and economic indicators.
- 2000s: Advances in technology and improvements in data collection methods allowed for the creation of more accurate and extensive databases.
- 2010s: Significant improvements in data quality and accessibility. FAO, the World Bank, and other international organizations continue to publish regular reports, including the FAO’s “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.”
- 2020s: Research continues, taking into account modern challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and global economic fluctuations.
International research results show a stable trend towards increased calorie content of diets per capita, reflecting changes and progress in production, distribution, and consumption patterns of food worldwide.
Caloric content of human diets is an important indicator of a country’s food security assessment, but this indicator does not cover the full spectrum of nutritional needs, as a complete diet requires more than just energy.
According to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), an adult should consume at least 3000 calories a day to maintain health. According to data from ourworldindata.org, Kazakhstan ranks among the top 40 countries in the world in terms of calorie consumption per capita, with each resident consuming an average of 3366 calories a day. Traditionally, the USA leads in this indicator, where each citizen consumes almost 4000 calories a day. Notably, most developed and wealthy countries exhibit high levels of calorie consumption.
However, some economists suggest that there is a connection between the caloric content of a person’s diet and the country’s GDP level. Nevertheless, this theory is not confirmed in Kazakhstan, as there has been a stable dynamic in GDP per capita growth since 2008, which has increased fourfold (from 1024.2 thousand tenge to 4418 thousand tenge). During the same period, the level of calorie consumption per capita increased by only 10% (from 3066 calories to 3366 calories a day).
This circumstance may indirectly indicate the uneven distribution of wealth among the citizens of the country, as well as high food expenses. For instance, according to official statistics, Kazakhs spend on average 51% of their earnings on food, with meat and meat products accounting for the largest share (17% of the family’s monthly income).
Based on the analysis conducted, the following conclusions can be drawn:
- In most countries, there is a positive correlation between calorie consumption and per capita GDP level. This means that in countries with higher GDP per capita, people generally consume more calories, which is associated with access to a greater variety and quantity of food.
- In countries with high GDP levels, not only is more calories consumed, but the quality of food also improves, including a larger proportion of proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
- In some wealthy countries, increased calorie intake is associated with problems of overweight and obesity.
- In countries with low GDP per capita, malnutrition and calorie deficiency are often observed, leading to various health problems, including a lack of micronutrients and an increase in infectious diseases.
- There is no direct correlation between calorie consumption and per capita GDP level In Kazakhstan which may be associated with high food expenses and the level of inequality.
By Erlan Karimov
Economist
