Bread Consumption Per Capita in Iran and around the World

Bread Consumption Per Capita in Iran and Around the World

Bread has been a staple in human history for centuries. Cultural and historical experts even say that bread has played a crucial role in shaping human civilization and survival. In fact, bread has structured modern society and organized our way of life. Therefore, bread is not just a food item but a symbol of culture, history, hunger, wealth, war, and peace.

Even today, bread remains a highly popular food and is the main dietary staple for billions of households worldwide. Even in places abundant with rice and other grains, bread is still an essential option on the table. Global bread consumption statistics show that almost every country consumes bread, albeit in varying amounts. If you want to know which countries are absolutely crazy about bread, read this research report on bread consumption per capita in Iran and around the world.

Bread Consumption Per Capita in Iran: Past and Present

Iran is an ancient nation with a long history. It’s not surprising that bread baking has been common in our country since ancient times. Bread has always been an inseparable part of Iranian life and culture and is a constant companion alongside various Iranian dishes. The diversity of Iranian breads like Sangak, Barbari, Taftoon, and Sheermal all indicate the Iranian fondness for bread. Essentially, in Iranian culture, bread is considered a divine blessing and abundance, holding a special place for the people.

According to the Statistical Center of Iran in 2022, each household in Iran consumed an average of 161 kilograms of bread annually. This figure for bread consumption per capita in Iran was slightly less a decade earlier, around 150 kilograms in 2011. In fact, due to various reasons, including economic conditions and the high cost of other food items, bread has found a larger and more significant share in the Iranian diet. Because compared to other commodities, bread remains an affordable option for Iranian households.

Below is a table showing the country’s bread consumption over the past decade:

It can be said that the average bread consumption per capita in the country is over 156 kilograms. This figure is approximately 2 to 3 times the global averages and the bread consumption levels in other countries.

Foodex Iran and a Report on Food Consumption Per Capita in Iran

Foodex Iran offers various services to food industry professionals, including hosting the Foodex digital exhibition for brands active in the food and beverage industries, implementing digital marketing strategies for food and beverage brands, designing and executing digital advertising, and more.

Alongside these activities, providing information and raising awareness about health-oriented nutrition and specialized market reports on nutrition and consumer behavior is one of the main goals that Foodex has set for itself. Accordingly, this collection has published several studies and addressed fundamental questions such as whether Iranians have a correct understanding of healthy nutrition and to what extent the Iranian diet aligns with global standards.

In Foodex’s first study called “My Plate,” participants were asked how healthy they considered their diet. It also attempted to determine, based on demographic variables, how much each person consumes various food items in their diet. Furthermore, this study compared the Iranian food basket with national and international standards to analyze and conclude based on the data obtained by participants.

Findings from this study also show that we Iranians consume approximately 54 kilograms of bread per capita annually. This amount is equivalent to 23 kilograms globally, indicating that Iranians consume up to twice as much bread as people worldwide.

Foodex’s second study conducted in June 2023, titled “The Idea of Food Health in the Minds of Iranians,” involved 4,800 participants who were asked how healthy they considered their diet and how many correct eating habits they had. In addition to the questionnaire, this study also referred to numerous domestic and international documents and articles about Iranian nutrition to present more accurate conclusions about the current reality of the Iranian idea of food health by comparing the data obtained and credible sources.

One of the questionnaire questions in the “The Idea of Food Health in the Minds of Iranians” study asked participants whether they knew the correct and standard amount of consumption for various food groups, from bread and grains to meat and poultry or dairy and vegetables. Results showed that most respondents overestimated the daily need for grain products like bread and rice. While nutrition experts recommend consumption below 50 grams for products like bread, rice, and grains, only 11% of participants knew this amount correctly, and about one-fifth of the audience had no information about it.

Another important point that the bread consumption per capita in Iran shows in Foodex’s research is that the consumption of whole wheat bread or bread made with unrefined flour among Iranians is very low.

Bread Consumption Among Different Social Groups in Iran

One of the topics that should always be considered alongside discussing bread consumption per capita in Iran is the amount of bread consumption among different social groups. In fact, for low-income groups of society, especially the first to third economic deciles, bread constitutes a significant part of their daily diet. Recent statistics from the Statistical Center of Iran also show that bread accounts for a 29% share in the food consumption basket of the country’s lower three deciles, while other food items like meat only have a 16% share in this group’s diet.

You can clearly see the difference in bread consumption between urban and rural households for the period from 2000 to 2006 in the table below:

The significant gap in the bread consumption share from the first to the third deciles can also indicate the unequal distribution of goods among consumer groups. However, we should not overlook the significant increase in bread prices. According to reports from the Statistical Center of Iran, the average annual cost of bread for families has risen from 500,000 Tomans in 2015 to 2.2 million Tomans in 2022 and has increased even more today.

Foodex’s “Iranian Health Plate” research also shows that in Iran, about 820 billion Tomans worth of bread is purchased daily by people. This means that on average, about 10,000 Tomans is the daily per capita amount spent on bread by each Iranian.

The Relationship Between Production and Bread Consumption Per Capita in Iran

Statistics indicate that the annual bread production in Iran is 15 million tons. Of this production amount, industrial bakeries account for 20%, and traditional bakeries account for 80%. That is, only 2% of the allocated flour for all bakeries is consumed in industrial bakeries, and nearly 98% of the country’s produced and imported wheat and flour is allocated to traditional bakeries.

In fact, industrial breads only capture 12% of the consumption market.

The Relationship Between Supply and Demand in Bread Consumption in Iran

The results of a study examining the food balance sheet from 2002 to 2011 and the relationship between supply and demand in bread consumption per capita in Iran show that despite the increase in subsidies paid for bread during the years 2002 to 2011, bread consumption decreased during this period. According to the researchers’ statistics in this study, one of the main reasons for the downward trend in bread consumption during the years 2002 to 2011 was the multi-stage increase in bread prices during these years. The price of a loaf of Sangak bread in the years 2005, 2009, 2011, and 2013 was 500, 2,000, 5,000, and 8,000 Rials respectively. The price of each Barbari bread also increased from 750 Rials in 2005 to 5,000 Rials in 2013. In fact, the inflation rate of bread in those years even reached up to 667%.

Since 2022, the government has also tried to reduce unnecessary and excessive flour consumption and have more precise oversight over flour consumption by implementing smart policies in bakeries and targeting bread subsidies.

The Impact of Exports and Imports on Bread Consumption Per Capita in Iran

In the first quarter of 2023, 790,916 tons of wheat were imported into the country, which, compared to the same period last year (1,531,450 tons), has decreased by 48% in weight. Of course, the main reason for this decrease in wheat imports is the increase in wheat production volume in the country. According to statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2022, 13 million tons of wheat were produced in Iran, which is more than 28% compared to 10.1 million tons in 2021.

Figures from the Agriculture, Water, and Environment Commission also state that the total wheat production in the agricultural year 2020-2021 was 9.068 million tons, which increased by 27% to 11.519 million tons in the agricultural year 2021-2022. The approximate annual need for wheat in the country is estimated to be around 11 to 12 million tons.

All this means that despite widespread drought in the country, considering the government’s supportive policies, including a 130% increase in purchase prices from farmers and incentives like a 50% reduction in agricultural input prices, this year’s guaranteed purchase of wheat from farmers has reached 7 to 8 million tons (approximately 68% of production). These actions can help control bread prices and make flour subsidies more targeted.

Bread Consumption Per Capita Around the World

In various countries around the world, different types of bread like white bread, baguettes, focaccia, rye bread, pita bread, and more are consumed. But which countries have the highest bread consumption? Generally, when it comes to bread consumption per capita around the world, Europe is significantly ahead. Because bread is one of the main food items in European meals. The total consumption of bread and related pastry products in the 27 European Union countries is estimated to be close to 39 million tons.

According to Guinness World Records up to the year 2000, Turkey had the highest bread consumption per capita in the world at 199.6 kilograms per person and still holds that position. Following Turkey are Serbia and Montenegro with 135 kilograms and Bulgaria with 133.1 kilograms in subsequent ranks.

Also, according to official statistics from 2016, the countries with the highest consumption were: the United States (14.7 million tons), China (9.3 million tons), Russia (8.7 million tons), the UK (6.2 million tons), Germany (5.2 million tons), Egypt (4.6 million tons), and Italy (3.9 million tons).

The table below shows the annual bread consumption per person globally, broken down by country:

Of course, these figures, especially in countries like China and India, may not be very precise because a significant portion of bread-like products consumption may be supplied through home bakeries, which are usually not covered by statistics.

Comparing Bread Consumption Per Capita in Iran and the World

Comparing bread consumption per capita in Iran and the world shows that Iranians, with an annual consumption of 160 kilograms of bread per person, are the second-largest bread consumers in the world after Turkish consumers (with 199.6 kilograms per person).

As we have seen, the average daily bread consumption in Iran is about 320 grams, which amounts to 117 kilograms of annual per capita consumption. This number is approximately double that of European countries and six times more than the global average.

Conclusion

Bread is a staple food for many people around the world. Various types of bread in different shapes, flavors, and textures were part of the food basket of over 80% of the world’s population last year. Consumption patterns of bread vary in different countries from Asia and Africa to Europe. However, most countries consume an average of 50 kilograms of bread per person per year.

In Iran, 63% of the daily food ration of each Iranian family is supplied by bread consumption. Statistics indicate that the average bread consumption in Iran is 2 to 3 times the global average consumption. Of course, part of this difference in consumption per capita, apart from dietary habits, cultural factors, or economic issues mentioned in the text, may be due to the poor quality of some breads and the high amount of bread waste in the country. Unfortunately, consumers are also not familiar with the correct principles of cooling and storing bread after baking and do not know how to keep bread fresh and consumable. Therefore, to manage the country’s bread consumption per capita, we must simultaneously work on implementing educational programs to improve bread quality and increase public awareness of the correct principles of bread storage and reducing its waste.

References

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – FAO Statistics
Statistical Center of Iran – Annual Household Expenditure Report
International Grains Council (IGC) – Grain Market Report
Guinness World Records – Highest Bread Consumption
European Commission – EU Agricultural Markets Briefs