Banana Consumption by Country 2024

Bananas aren’t just wildly popular in Western countries like the United States or the United Kingdom. The fact that they’re sweet, nutritious, and very easy to eat makes them a favorite treat in many different countries around the world.

However, some countries are definitely larger, more consistent banana consumers than others. There are a variety of factors at play that may affect a given population’s access to and preference for bananas, as well.

Countries That Consume the Most Bananas

As of 2023, Uganda is the world’s leader when it comes to per capita banana consumption. On average, each Ugandan eats an average of 660 pounds of bananas each year. However, the country’s bananas are also used to create other food items, including a unique wine made from bananas.

Other countries that consume a consistently high number of bananas from year to year include the following.

New Zealand: New Zealanders consume approximately 40 pounds of bananas per person each year

India: In India, each person consumes an average of 44.1 pounds of bananas each year

United States: In the United States, bananas are easily one of the most popular, widely consumed fruits with each person consuming around 26.87 pounds annually

Papua New Guinea: This country also consumes quite a few bananas from year to year with 2020’s per capita consumption equally 247 pounds

Additional countries that consume many bananas each year include but are not limited to the Philippines, Rwanda, Cameroon, and multiple additional nations across Africa and South Asia.

Factors That Influence Banana Consumption

As with the consumption of many agricultural products and food items, a country’s per capita consumption of bananas depends on many different factors. Here are a few key examples to keep in mind.

Local Availability

In most countries, the most abundant, widely available food options also tend to be the most widely consumed. For that reason, the world’s highest, most consistent per capita banana consumers also tend to be the countries that produce more of the world's supply of bananas.

Cultural Tastes

Whether or not bananas factor into important local culinary dishes and familiar cultural traditions often affects the frequency of consumption. The more of a staple the humble banana is to a country’s cuisine, the more likely its people are to prefer it, even when other options are available.

Economic Factors

Economic standing almost always influences a country’s food choices. Higher-income populations tend to explore more exotic produce options beyond what’s widely available locally, while those with limited means may stick to bananas because of their affordability and overall abundance.