Share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. GDP per capita in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. GDP per capita was 46 percent in 2021. ▼ Falling
Share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. GDP per capita in Saudi Arabia, 2001–2021
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in percent.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 46 percent for share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita in 2021.
The figure is up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita in Saudi Arabia peaked at 51 percent in 2008 and was at its lowest, 43 percent, in 2012.
That places Saudi Arabia 79th out of 182 countries with data for 2021, putting it 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | percent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 50 percent | — |
| 2002 | 50 percent | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 50 percent | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 49 percent | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 50 percent | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 50 percent | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 50 percent | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 51 percent | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 49 percent | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 47 percent | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 44 percent | -6.4% |
| 2012 | 43 percent | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 44 percent | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 46 percent | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 47 percent | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 47 percent | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 47 percent | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 47 percent | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 47 percent | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 46 percent | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 46 percent | +0.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 46 percent is above the median for high income countries, which is 31 percent, 1.5× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 46 percent is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 47 percent, 98% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 49.89 percent | 49 percent | 51 percent | 9 |
| 2010s | 45.9 percent | 43 percent | 47 percent | 10 |
| 2020s | 46 percent | 46 percent | 46 percent | 2 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 79 Brunei Darussalam 46 percent compare
- 79 Uzbekistan 46 percent compare
- 82 Papua New Guinea 45 percent compare
- 82 South Africa 45 percent compare
More energy & mining data for Saudi Arabia
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.85 % 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 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 5.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita in Saudi Arabia?
- Share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita in Saudi Arabia was 46 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 51 percent in 2008.
- What is the lowest share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 43 percent in 2012.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for share of calories from cereals, roots, and tubers vs. gdp per capita?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 79th 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.
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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.