World Vision Report Highlights Global Food Affordability Gap
A new report shows that basic food costs consume more than a week of work in 11 countries across the globe.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Inflation
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World Vision analyzed the work time required to purchase ten staple foods in 56 nations. The report finds significant disparities in purchasing power, with food costs in the Central African Republic requiring 30.1 workdays compared to just one hour in the United States.
Why it matters
The findings underscore extreme global inequalities in food access and economic stability. These disparities contribute to the ongoing crisis of child malnutrition, which impacted 35.5 million children worldwide in 2025.
In 11 of the 56 surveyed countries, purchasing ten staple items requires over one full workweek. The work-time requirement reaches 30.1 days in the Central African Republic, 19.3 days in Sudan, 10.1 days in Myanmar, and 9.5 days in Haiti.
The players
World Vision
This international humanitarian organization focuses on providing relief and development programs to combat poverty and injustice worldwide.
The details
Researchers measured the cost of bananas, rice, wheat flour, sugar, maize, tomatoes, chicken, eggs, milk, and cooking oil against average per capita income. The study excluded countries including South Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Venezuela due to a lack of reliable income data.
Timeline
Researchers conducted survey pricing between November 2025 and May 2026.
Sudanese food prices were benchmarked against levels recorded in 2024.
Famine conditions were reported in parts of Sudan throughout 2025 and 2026.
Global data reflects that 35.5 million children were acutely malnourished during 2025.
Macro View
The World Vision Price Shocks report provides data that helps contextualize the severity of global food insecurity relative to local economic output. This analysis follows patterns seen in previous studies of global income inequality where purchasing power parity serves as a key indicator of development.
For residents in the most impacted nations, high food costs relative to wages directly threaten basic survival and monthly household budgeting. This global trend highlights the stark divide in cost of living pressures between developed economies and those facing severe systemic economic challenges.
The takeaway
Understanding the ratio between work time and food costs reveals the intensity of global poverty in ways that currency figures alone cannot capture. Consumers and policy makers can use these insights to better prioritize aid and resources for the regions where essential goods are least affordable.
Further reading
Explore more analysis of global economic conditions in our Inflation section.
Live Poll
Have rising food costs made it more difficult for your household to afford groceries this year?
