Dietary composition by country in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Dietary composition by country was 39.84 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
39.84 kilocalories per day per capita
Change on year
down 5.1%
World rank
35th
of 191 countries
All-time high
55.89 kilocalories per day per capita
in 2020
All-time low
0 kilocalories per day per capita
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Dietary composition by country in United Kingdom, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilocalories per day per capita.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 39.84 kilocalories per day per capita for dietary composition by country in 2023.
The figure is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, dietary composition by country in United Kingdom peaked at 55.89 kilocalories per day per capita in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0 kilocalories per day per capita, in 1961.
United Kingdom ranks 35th of 191 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Dietary composition by country in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | kilocalories per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1963 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1964 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1965 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1966 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1967 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1968 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1969 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1970 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1971 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1972 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1973 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1974 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1975 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1976 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1977 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1978 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1979 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1980 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1981 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1982 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1983 | 1 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1984 | 2.01 kilocalories per day per capita | +99.8% |
| 1985 | 2 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 3 kilocalories per day per capita | +49.9% |
| 1987 | 3 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 3 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 2 kilocalories per day per capita | -33.3% |
| 1990 | 3 kilocalories per day per capita | +49.9% |
| 1991 | 3 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 3 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 8 kilocalories per day per capita | +166.7% |
| 1994 | 6 kilocalories per day per capita | -25.0% |
| 1995 | 6.01 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 4.01 kilocalories per day per capita | -33.3% |
| 1997 | 3.01 kilocalories per day per capita | -25.0% |
| 1998 | 7.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +133.4% |
| 1999 | 8.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +14.3% |
| 2000 | 10.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +25.0% |
| 2001 | 8.02 kilocalories per day per capita | -20.0% |
| 2002 | 9.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +12.5% |
| 2003 | 11.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +22.2% |
| 2004 | 13.01 kilocalories per day per capita | +18.1% |
| 2005 | 25.97 kilocalories per day per capita | +99.6% |
| 2006 | 15.95 kilocalories per day per capita | -38.6% |
| 2007 | 15.91 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 18.86 kilocalories per day per capita | +18.5% |
| 2009 | 18.83 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 38.27 kilocalories per day per capita | +103.3% |
| 2011 | 44.19 kilocalories per day per capita | +15.5% |
| 2012 | 47.68 kilocalories per day per capita | +7.9% |
| 2013 | 49.1 kilocalories per day per capita | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 47.1 kilocalories per day per capita | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 47.09 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 46.66 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 43 kilocalories per day per capita | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 41.97 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 45.94 kilocalories per day per capita | +9.5% |
| 2020 | 55.89 kilocalories per day per capita | +21.7% |
| 2021 | 48.58 kilocalories per day per capita | -13.1% |
| 2022 | 41.98 kilocalories per day per capita | -13.6% |
| 2023 | 39.84 kilocalories per day per capita | -5.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 39.84 kilocalories per day per capita is above the median for high income countries, which is 17.56 kilocalories per day per capita, 2.3× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 39.84 kilocalories per day per capita is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.95 kilocalories per day per capita, 3.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Dietary composition by country in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +166.7% | 3 kilocalories per day per capita | 8 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1998 | +133.4% | 3.01 kilocalories per day per capita | 7.02 kilocalories per day per capita |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.6 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 3 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.11 kilocalories per day per capita | 3 kilocalories per day per capita | 8.02 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.66 kilocalories per day per capita | 8.02 kilocalories per day per capita | 25.97 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.1 kilocalories per day per capita | 38.27 kilocalories per day per capita | 49.1 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.57 kilocalories per day per capita | 39.84 kilocalories per day per capita | 55.89 kilocalories per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 32 Micronesia (country) 41.94 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 33 Saudi Arabia 41.58 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 34 Qatar 41.24 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 36 Ireland 38.66 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 37 Georgia 36.09 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 38 Panama 35.79 kilocalories per day per capita compare
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is dietary composition by country in United Kingdom?
- Dietary composition by country in United Kingdom was 39.84 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest dietary composition by country recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 55.89 kilocalories per day per capita in 2020.
- What is the lowest dietary composition by country recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilocalories per day per capita in 1961.
- How does United Kingdom rank for dietary composition by country?
- United Kingdom ranks 35th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is dietary composition by country rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Dietary composition by country. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Quantity that is available for consumption at the end of the supply chain. It does not account for consumer waste, so the quantity that is actually consumed may be lower.