Share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. GDP per capita in China
China: Share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. GDP per capita was 51 percent in 2021. ▼ Falling
Share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. GDP per capita in China, 2001–2021
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in percent.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita in China is 51 percent, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita in China peaked at 61 percent in 2001 and was at its lowest, 51 percent, in 2020.
China ranks 59th of 182 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. GDP per capita in China, year by year
| Year | percent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 61 percent | — |
| 2002 | 60 percent | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 59 percent | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 58 percent | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 57 percent | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 56 percent | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 55 percent | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 54 percent | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 54 percent | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 54 percent | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 54 percent | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 54 percent | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 53 percent | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 53 percent | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 52 percent | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 52 percent | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 52 percent | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 52 percent | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 52 percent | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 51 percent | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 51 percent | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 51 percent is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 42 percent, 1.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 51 percent is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 45 percent, 1.1× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 57.11 percent | 54 percent | 61 percent | 9 |
| 2010s | 52.8 percent | 52 percent | 54 percent | 10 |
| 2020s | 51 percent | 51 percent | 51 percent | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
More energy & mining data for China
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 2.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 20.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita in China?
- Share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita in China was 51 percent in 2021, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 61 percent in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 51 percent in 2020.
- How does China rank for share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita?
- China ranks 59th out of 182 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
A high share of calories from cereals, roots and tubers typically represents lower dietary diversity. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.