Growth in World Food Consumption Slowed in the Late 1980's

Global per capita food consumption continued to grow in the late 1980's, but slower than in the 1960's or 1970's. All nations, however, did not share in the increase. Developed North America and centrally planned Asia had the strongest growth, while Africa endured a decline. Africa has become the poorest fed geographic region, containing 8 of the world's 10 poorest fed countries. As the 1980's progressed, however, the world increase slowed. Consumption increased 92 calories between 1980 and 1986, but 1988 consumption was unchanged from the 2,678 calories consumed in 1986. Developed North America (see box for regional composition), with a pace-setting 3,645 calories per capita in 1988, and centrally planned Asia (primarily China) were the only two regions whose growth in the 1980's exceeded the previous two decades.