Wheat Consumption by Country 2024

Wheat is one of the most fundamental foods and basic ingredients in countless cultures around the world. But unsurprisingly, wheat consumption can vary sharply by country.

China is the world's largest consumer of wheat by overall volume, chowing down on more than 97,000 tons of grain. India is in second with more than 90,000 tons. Both of these high-population countries consume about 65 kilograms of wheat per capita. The United States is a distant third in total consumption, with just over 27,000 tons. However, it has a far higher per-capital consumption, at nearly 82 kilograms per person. That may sound like a lot, but it's still just a fraction of the world's highest per-capital wheat-consuming nations, which include Azerbaijan (204.3), Tunisia (199.79), Turkmenistan (186.23), and Algeria (175.5.) Six of the world's top wheat consumers by volume are Asian nations (China, India, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, and Iran), as are seven of the top per-capita (Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Georgia, Syria, and Afghanistan.)

On the opposite end of the spectrum, small countries like Nauru, Micronesia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica consume the least total wheat per year, under five tons each. All of the top ten lowest wheat-consuming countries are small islands. Per capita, African countries stand out for their low wheat consumption per person, with the residents of the Central African Republic consuming just 3.7 kilograms per person, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (3.99) and Chad and South Sudan (tied at 5.14.)

A variety of factors can influence wheat consumption levels. These include whether the grain is grown and processed domestically, its role in local cuisine, and the country's overall wealth. Wheat also plays a significant role in processed foods, leading to higher wheat consumption in countries that eat more processed diets.

While wheat remains one of the most important agricultural products on the planet, it's easy to see that not every country enjoys equal access to or has an equal desire for the versatile, nutritious grain.