Skip to main content

China; mainland

Diet and nutrition profile based on FAO Food Balance Sheets (1961–2023).

3,527 kcal/day
131.6 g protein/day
100.4 g fat/day
23 of 200
China; mainland provides an average of 3,527 kcal per person per day (2023), with 131.6g of protein and 100.4g of fat. Since 1961, calorie supply has increased by 149% (from 1,415 to 3,527 kcal). Globally, China; mainland ranks #23 out of 200 countries by calorie supply.

Food Supply Trend

Daily food supply per capita in China; mainland compared to the world average.

Diet Composition (2023)

Where the calories come from — food group breakdown by kcal/capita/day.

Macronutrient Trends

Protein and fat supply over time in China; mainland.

Food Supply Treemap

Area-proportional view of China; mainland's food supply — larger blocks mean more calories from that food group.

What's Different?

How China; mainland's food supply differs from the world average — bars show excess (right) or deficit (left) in calories.

vs. EAT-Lancet Reference Diet

How China; mainland's food supply compares to the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet — the scientifically-derived dietary pattern for human and planetary health.

⚠️ Approximate comparison. FAO food supply data measures availability (not intake) and uses different food group definitions than the EAT-Lancet framework. Bars show directional patterns, not precise gaps.

Explore the full Planetary Health Diet →

💰 Cost of a Healthy Diet

In China; mainland, a healthy diet costs $4.15/day — affordable for most, but still out of reach for 10% of the population.

$4.15
Healthy diet cost/day
$8.50
Daily income (bottom 40%)
10%
Cannot afford healthy diet
Healthy diet as % of income (bottom 40%) 49%
0%50%100%+
FAO, IFPRI & World Bank — CoAHD (2022) Explore global cost data →

Similar Countries

Countries with a similar calorie supply.

🔗 China; mainland in the Mortality Explorer

Explore China; mainland's mortality data — life expectancy, causes of death, and risk factors — in our companion tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories per day does China; mainland produce?

China; mainland's food supply provides approximately 3,527 kcal per person per day as of 2023, according to FAO Food Balance Sheets. This measures food availability, not actual individual consumption — household-level waste typically reduces actual intake by 20–30%.

How has China; mainland's diet changed over time?

Between 1961 and 2023, China; mainland's total calorie supply changed from 1,415 to 3,527 kcal/capita/day (an increase of 149%). Protein supply went from 39.0g to 131.6g per day. Fat supply changed from 14.6g to 100.4g per day.

Where does China; mainland rank globally?

China; mainland ranks #23 out of 200 countries by calorie supply per capita. The world average is approximately 3,016 kcal/capita/day.

How does China; mainland's diet differ from the world average?

The butterfly chart above shows the difference in food supply composition between China; mainland and the global average. Bars extending to the right indicate food groups where China; mainland consumes more than the world average, while bars extending left show deficits. These differences reflect agricultural production, cultural food traditions, income levels, and trade patterns.

What are dietary risk factors?

Dietary risk factors are eating patterns linked to chronic disease and premature death, as modeled by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. The five major dietary risks are: high sodium intake, low fruit intake, low vegetable intake, low whole grain intake, and low nut and seed intake. These are population-level statistical estimates — not direct counts of individual deaths.