Based on an annual estimate of approximately 1,050,000,000,000, derived from UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024.
2,876,712,328
per day
119,863,013
per hour
1,997,716
per minute
33,295
per second
87,500,000,000
per month
727,273,275,675
so far this year (est.)
Putting It in Perspective
Across the world, that works out to roughly
~3 kg
per person each week
based on UNEP's global average of 132 kg of food waste per person per year.
This is a global average from UNEP's Food Waste Index estimate and includes edible food and associated inedible parts.
About 1.05 billion tonnes of food are wasted worldwide each year — roughly 2.9 million tonnes per day. UNEP's estimate covers waste from households, food service, and retail, including edible food and associated inedible parts.
At a Glance
Global food waste
1.05 billion tonnes/year
UNEP Food Waste Index estimate
Average per person
132 kg/year
Including inedible parts
Largest sector
Households: 60%
Of measured food waste
Measured stages
Retail to households
Retail, food service & homes
Key Statistics
Annual food waste
1.05 billion tonnes
UNEP Food Waste Index estimate
Average per person
132 kg/year
Including inedible parts
Household share
60%
Of measured food waste
Food service share
28%
Of measured food waste
Retail share
12%
Of measured food waste
In Depth
What does the Food Waste counter include?
This page uses UNEP's Food Waste Index estimate for food waste generated at retail, food service, and household stages. The total includes edible food and associated inedible parts, such as bones, pits, and eggshells.
UNEP estimates global food waste at 132 kg per person each year. This is an average across the entire population and includes food waste from households, food service, and retail, as well as associated inedible parts.
Households account for 60% of the food waste measured by UNEP worldwide. Food service accounts for 28% and retail for 12%, showing that food waste occurs across the retail and consumer stages of the food system.
What is the difference between food loss and food waste?
UNEP's Food Waste Index covers waste at retail, food service, and household stages. Food loss is a separate concept that occurs earlier in the supply chain, from post-harvest handling up to—but not including—the retail stage.
The widely cited one-third figure comes from a 2011 FAO estimate that roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption was lost or wasted across the full food chain. It combines upstream food loss with downstream food waste, so it is not the same as this page's Food Waste Index counter.
UNEP estimates that 1.05 billion tonnes of food waste are generated worldwide each year, including edible food and associated inedible parts.
Food waste averages 132 kilograms per person globally each year, according to UNEP's 2024 Food Waste Index.
Households account for 60% of the food waste measured by UNEP, compared with 28% from food service and 12% from retail.
The Food Waste Index measures downstream waste at retail, food service, and household stages; it does not measure upstream food loss before retail.
The UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 calls for halving per-capita food waste at retail and consumer levels by 2030.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much food is wasted worldwide each year?
UNEP estimates that 1.05 billion tonnes of food waste are generated worldwide each year. This Food Waste Index estimate covers retail, food service, and households, including edible food and associated inedible parts.
How much food is wasted globally each day?
The live counter calculates approximately 2,876,712,328 kg of food waste per day from UNEP's annual estimate — about 2.9 million tonnes daily in a typical year.
What does the Food Waste counter include?
This page uses UNEP's Food Waste Index estimate for food waste generated at retail, food service, and household stages. The total includes edible food and associated inedible parts, such as bones, pits, and eggshells.
How much food does the average person waste?
UNEP estimates global food waste at 132 kg per person each year. This is an average across the entire population and includes food waste from households, food service, and retail, as well as associated inedible parts.
Where does most food waste occur?
Households account for 60% of the food waste measured by UNEP worldwide. Food service accounts for 28% and retail for 12%, showing that food waste occurs across the retail and consumer stages of the food system.
What is the difference between food loss and food waste?
UNEP's Food Waste Index covers waste at retail, food service, and household stages. Food loss is a separate concept that occurs earlier in the supply chain, from post-harvest handling up to—but not including—the retail stage.
Is one-third of all food really wasted?
The widely cited one-third figure comes from a 2011 FAO estimate that roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption was lost or wasted across the full food chain. It combines upstream food loss with downstream food waste, so it is not the same as this page's Food Waste Index counter.
HumanConsumption.Live converts this authoritative annual estimate into a continuously updating rate across the current calendar year. The counter visualizes that pace; it is not a direct real-time measurement from the source organization.