This fact is especially sad knowing that food waste is one of the planet’s most urgent issues. My grandmother’s saying, “We never throw away bread,” often rings in my ears. She had no idea how important a lesson she was teaching me!
Today, food waste happens at every level of society: at home, on farms, and in industrial facilities. It’s a huge global problem. Trendrr Magazine gathered data on which countries waste the most food (based on a 2-year statistic):
10. Norway
National statistics show that over 620 kilograms (about 1,370 lbs) of food per person is wasted annually in Norway, totaling 335,000 tons. This is especially painful considering most of this food is imported, adding the environmental cost of transportation emissions to the waste.
9. Canada
Canada ranks ninth in food waste. It’s estimated that each person wastes around 640 kg (1,410 lbs) of food yearly, adding up to 17.5 million tons nationwide. Household kitchens lead the waste, followed by hotels and other restaurants.
8. Denmark
In Denmark, the average person wastes about 660 kg (1,455 lbs) of food annually, meaning over 700,000 tons of edible or partially edible food ends up in the trash. The country’s high food imports also contribute to this troubling statistic.
7. Australia
With its large population, Australia also struggles with massive food waste. Sadly, not only fresh, edible food but also unopened, packaged items are frequently discarded. The government spends about 8 million USD tackling this issue.
6. United States
The U.S. is the world’s most populous country and one of the largest food producers and importers. It’s estimated that nearly half of the food produced ends up as waste, with each person wasting roughly 760 kg (1,675 lbs) of food annually—equivalent to about 1,600 USD in value.
5. Netherlands
Experts estimate the EU wastes around 88 million tons of food annually, averaging 173 kg per person. The Netherlands tops the list with 541 kg (1,193 lbs) of waste per person. Over half of the discarded food comes from households, alongside agricultural and industrial food waste.
4. Finland
Finland ranks fifth among food-wasting countries. Each person wastes an estimated 550 kg (1,213 lbs) annually, including packaged, unopened, and fresh products. Restaurants and hotels are the biggest contributors, followed by households.
3. Singapore
Singapore relies heavily on food imports but shows little appreciation for it. Studies reveal food waste is steadily increasing yearly. The government has introduced new regulations, yet only about 13% of food waste is currently recycled.
2. Malaysia
Malaysia’s economy depends largely on agriculture, yet food waste remains a huge problem. Statistics show each citizen wastes between 540 and 560 kg (1,190–1,235 lbs) of food annually.
1. United Kingdom
Over 60% of the UK’s food supply is imported. The country’s food waste exceeds 6.7 million tons annually, costing an extra 10.2 billion USD each year.
To cut losses, the UK launched consumer education campaigns, successfully reducing waste by 137,000 tons so far.
