About 931 million tons of food are wasted every year, which accounts for 8 to 10 per cent of international carbon emissions related to unconsumed food. Nigeria ranks among the top nations in food waste with a per capita waste of 189 kilograms and an annual total of 37.9 million tons.
Food waste is not just a statistic, it is a real problem that affects people all over the world. In developed countries, households are often the main offenders. Sometimes, a lot of food gets thrown away because people buy too much.
On another end, many developing countries deal with a different issue. For them, the struggle is not in excess but in inefficiency. Factors like poor infrastructure, lack of refrigeration, and weak supply chains lead to food spoilage even before it hits the market.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Food Waste Index Report, approximately 931 million tons of food are wasted every year, which accounts for 8 to 10 per cent of international carbon emissions related to unconsumed food.
The Food Waste Index also revealed that around 17 per cent of global food production is thrown away, with households being responsible for 61 per cent of this food waste, followed by food service at 26 per cent, and the retail industry at 13 per cent.
A recent report by CEOWORLD magazine outlines the harmful effects of the global food waste crisis and identifies the countries that play a significant role in this pressing international issue.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, ranks among the top nations in food waste, with a per capita waste of 189 kilograms and a staggering annual total of 37.9 million tons.
Below are the top 10 African countries with the highest food waste:
| Rank | Country | Waste per capita (KG) | Annual waste (tons) | Global rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Nigeria |
189 |
37.9M |
1st |
|
2 |
Tanzania |
119 |
6.9M |
7th |
|
3 |
DR. Congo |
103 |
8.9M |
12th |
|
4 |
Uganda |
103 |
4.5M |
13th |
|
5 |
Mozambique |
103 |
3.1M |
14th |
|
6 |
Madagascar |
103 |
2.8M |
15th |
|
7 |
Niger |
103 |
2.4M |
16th |
|
8 |
Mali |
103 |
2M |
17th |
|
9 |
Burkina Faso |
103 |
2.1M |
18th |
|
10 |
Malawi |
103 |
1.9M |
19th |
