This statistic shows the share of food that is wasted globally, both the share that is perceived by the consumer and the actual value. In 2018, the average household in the United States estimated that they wasted 15 percent of purchased food but actually wasted 24 percent of their food items.
Share of perceived and actual food wasted worldwide in 2018, by select country
The survey included 1,000 people in the USA, 2,000 in Germany, 2,000 in France, 1,500 in Sweden and 500 to 800 participants from other countries.
The participants were asked to keep track of their wasting habits during a period of six months - in doing so, they had to take into account grocery shoppings that went directly to the bin as well as leftovers.
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Movinga. (November 14, 2018). Share of perceived and actual food wasted worldwide in 2018, by select country [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/942106/perceived-actual-food-waste-of-selected-countries/
Movinga. "Share of perceived and actual food wasted worldwide in 2018, by select country." Chart. November 14, 2018. Statista. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/942106/perceived-actual-food-waste-of-selected-countries/
Movinga. (2018). Share of perceived and actual food wasted worldwide in 2018, by select country. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/942106/perceived-actual-food-waste-of-selected-countries/
Movinga. "Share of Perceived and Actual Food Wasted Worldwide in 2018, by Select Country." Statista, Statista Inc., 14 Nov 2018, https://www.statista.com/statistics/942106/perceived-actual-food-waste-of-selected-countries/
Movinga, Share of perceived and actual food wasted worldwide in 2018, by select country Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/942106/perceived-actual-food-waste-of-selected-countries/ (last visited December 22, 2024)
Share of perceived and actual food wasted worldwide in 2018, by select country [Graph], Movinga, November 14, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/942106/perceived-actual-food-waste-of-selected-countries/