United States

Department of

Agriculture

Economic

Research

Service

Technical

Bulletin

Number 1929

March 2011 

Andrew Muhammad, James L. Seale, Jr., Birgit Meade, 

and Anita Regmi

International Evidence 

on Food Consumption 

Patterns

An Update Using 2005 International 

Comparison Program Data
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Recommended citation format for this publication:

Muhammad, Andrew, James L. Seale, Jr., Birgit Meade,and 

Anita Regmi. International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: 

An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data.

TB-1929. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Econ. Res. Serv. March 2011.
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International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

United States 

Department 

of Agriculture 

www.ers.usda.gov 

A Report from the Economic Research Service

Technical 

Bulletin

Number 1929

March 2011

International Evidence on Food 

Consumption Patterns

An Update Using 2005 International 

Comparison Program Data

Abstract

In a 2003 report, International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns, ERS economists estimated income and price elasticities of demand for broad consumption categories and food categories across 114 countries using 1996 International Comparison 

Program (ICP) data. This report updates that analysis with an estimated two-stage 

demand system across 144 countries using 2005 ICP data. Advances in ICP data collection since 1996 led to better results and more accurate income and price elasticity estimates. Low-income countries spend a greater portion of their budget on necessities, such 

as food, while richer countries spend a greater proportion of their income on luxuries, 

such as recreation. Low-value staples, such as cereals, account for a larger share of the 

food budget in poorer countries, while high-value food items are a larger share of the 

food budget in richer countries. Overall, low-income countries are more responsive to 

changes in income and food prices and, therefore, make larger adjustments to their food 

consumption pattern when incomes and prices change. However, adjustments to price 

and income changes are not uniform across all food categories. Staple food consumption 

changes the least, while consumption of higher-value food items changes the most. 

Andrew Muhammad, amuhammad@ers.usda.gov

James L. Seale, Jr. 

Birgit Meade, bmeade@ers.usda.gov

Anita Regmi
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Contents

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

International Comparison Program Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Two-Stage Cross-Country Demand Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Estimation Procedure and Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
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Summary

In a 2003 report, International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns, 

ERS and collaborating economists estimated income and price elasticities of 

demand for broad consumption categories—such as food, clothing, education, and other goods—and for food categories such as cereals, meats, and 

dairy across 114 countries using 1996 International Comparison Program 

(ICP) data. These elasticities measure the degree to which consumption 

changes when prices or incomes change. The estimates have been widely 

used in economic models such as the USDA’s Baseline model, the Global 

Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model, and the International Food Policy 

Research Institute’s IMPACT model. This report updates that analysis with a 

similar two-stage demand system using 2005 ICP data. 

What Is the Issue? 

An understanding of food demand and food trends across countries, and 

the ability to predict potential shifts in demand for different food products, 

are invaluable tools. The most prominent measures of food consumption 

behavior are income and price elasticities. A number of studies have estimated income and price elasticities using 1996 ICP data and data from years 

prior. However, advances in ICP data collection since 1996 should lead 

to better results and more accurate income and price elasticity estimates. 

Furthermore, the most recent ICP data round (2005) includes a greater 

number of countries, like developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, as 

well as China and India. 

What Did the Study Find?

•	Low-income countries allocate a greater portion of additional income 

to food. As countries become more affluent, more is allocated to luxury 

categories like recreation. For instance, a dollar increase in income would 

cause food expenditures in the Democratic Republic of Congo to increase 

by 63 cents, but only by 6 cents in the United States. In contrast, recreation 

expenditures in the Democratic Republic of Congo would not increase at 

all, while in the United States recreation expenditures would increase by 

13 cents.

•	The share of total budget allocated to housing is lowest in low-income 

countries and fairly similar in middle- and high-income countries, while 

the budget share on house furnishings is fairly similar across all income 

groups. Spending on health clearly rises with income, from 4.5 percent of 

the average household budget in low-income countries to 8.9 percent in 

high-income countries.

•	The income elasticity of demand for food varies greatly among countries 

and is highest among low-income countries, where it varies from 0.85 for 

the Democratic Republic of Congo to 0.71 for Tunisia. It ranges between 

0.71 and 0.57 for middle-income countries, and from 0.56 to 0.35 for highincome countries. The average income elasticity for low-income countries 

is 0.78, over 1.5 times the average for high-income countries.
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•	With affluence, the portion of additional food expenditures allocated to 

cereals and other staples decreases. For instance, a dollar increase in food 

expenditures results in cereal expenditures in the Democratic Republic 

of Congo increasing by 31 cents. By contrast, cereal expenditures in the 

United States would actually decrease by 2 cents, indicating the lower 

status afforded this food category by most consumers in rich countries. 

•	The own-price elasticities (holding marginal utility of income constant) for 

the food subcategories vary by affluence according to economic theory; 

low-income countries are more responsive to price changes compared 

with higher-income countries. For instance, the own-price elasticity value 

for breads and cereals ranges from -0.50 for the Democratic Republic of 

Congo to near zero for the United States.

•	Overall, low-income countries are more responsive to changes in income 

and food prices and, therefore, make larger adjustments to their food 

consumption pattern when incomes and prices change.

•	Unlike previous ICP data, restaurant and catering expenditures are 

included among food in the 2005 data. Consequently, our estimates of the 

income elasticity of demand for food in high-income countries are larger 

than the estimates in Seale et al. (2003, derived using 1996 ICP data). We 

find that the average income elasticity for high-income countries is 0.50, 

while Seale et al. found it to be 0.34. 

How Was the Study Conducted?

We estimate a two-stage demand system using 2005 ICP data. We analyze 

demand across 144 countries. The first stage involves estimating an aggregate demand system using the Florida-Preference Independence model 

across nine broad consumption categories: food—which includes food 

prepared and consumed at home, food away from home, and beverages and 

tobacco—clothing and footwear, education, housing, house furnishings and 

operations, medical care, transportation and communications, recreation, 

and other expenditures. The second stage of the analysis involves a second 

demand system using the Florida-Slutsky model to estimate demand across 

eight food subcategories: bread and cereals, meat, fish, dairy products, fruits 

and vegetables, oils and fats, beverages and tobacco, and other food products. Estimates are used to derive income and price elasticities of demand for 

broad consumption categories and food categories by country.
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Introduction

An understanding of food demand and food trends across countries and the 

ability to predict potential shifts in demand for different food products is an 

invaluable tool for all individuals involved in the agricultural sector. In an 

earlier ERS report, International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns,

Seale, Regmi, and Bernstein (2003) fit a two-stage demand system to 1996 

International Comparison Program (ICP) data across 114 countries. In that 

report, Seale and his colleagues estimated income and own-price elasticities 

of demand for broad consumption categories—such as food, clothing, education, and other goods—and for food categories such as cereals, meats, dairy, 

and other food groups. 

This report updates that analysis with a similar two-stage demand system 

using 2005 ICP data. In this study, we analyze demand across 144 countries 

and present income and price elasticities that can be used as inputs in future 

work to forecast food demand, as well as the need for housing, clothing, 

transportation, medical care, and other broad consumption categories. 

Consumers make food purchase decisions based on a budget that must also 

cover expenses for other goods and services. The budget available for food is 

dependent on the amount of income spent on these other goods and services. 

Therefore, an indepth study of food demand requires an understanding of the 

complete demand patterns of consumers. In this study, we present such a 

complete demand analysis where household decisionmaking is examined in 

two stages. In the first stage, a consumer is assumed to make budgetary decisions across broad consumption categories (food, housing, clothing, education, and other goods). In the second stage, the total food budget is further 

allocated to different food items. In conducting such a complete analysis, 

we provide demand estimates and income and own-price elasticities for nine 

broad consumption categories and eight food subcategories. These estimates 

are provided for countries ranging from low-income and developing, such 

as Zimbabwe, to high-income developed countries like Canada and the 

United States.

Advances in ICP data collection since the 1996 round should lead to better 

results and more accurate income and price elasticity estimates. The International Comparison Project started as a joint venture between the United 

Nations and the University of Pennsylvania, with the overall purpose of 

providing comparable Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for a large 

number of consumption items across countries (World Bank, 2008; Kravis 

et al., 1975). The latest ICP round (2005) covers 146 countries; corrects 

for the scaling problem common to past ICP data as reported by Seale et 

al. (2003); and employs a new methodology to ensure data accuracy and 

consistency across the selected countries (Diewert, 2010). The elasticity estimates derived by Seale, Regmi, and Bernstein (2003) using 1996 ICP data 

have been widely used as input in economic models such as the USDA’s 

Baseline model, the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model (Reimer 

and Hertel (2003, 2004), the International Food Policy Research Institute’s 

IMPACT model, and others (see, for example, studies by Winters (2005), 

von Braun (2007), Hertel and Winters (2006), and Valenzuela et al. (2007)). 

Additionally, Cox and Alm (2007) used the parameter estimates from Seale 

et al. (2003) to derive elasticities based on 2006 expenditure data. The 

updated results in this report should prove equally valuable.
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International Comparison Program Data

Expenditure and price data for the two-stage cross-country demand model 

were again obtained from the International Comparison Project, initiated in 

1975 by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania (Kravis et al., 1978) 

and maintained by the ICP Development Data Group of the World Bank. 

Over the years, data collected by the ICP have increased from 10 countries in 

Phase I (1970) to 146 countries in 2005 (table 1). The elasticities presented 

in this report are based on modeling work that began with Theil, Chung, and 

Seale (1989) using the data from the first four phases, covering a total of 60 

countries. Seale, Regmi, and Bernstein (2003) provided updates for existing 

countries and additional coverage based on 1996 data that included 65 

more countries. However, 10 countries included in the earlier 3 phases were 

excluded in the 1996 data, resulting in a total of 115 countries, 114 of which 

were covered by Seale et al. (2003).

The current analysis is based on the latest ICP data (2005), which cover 

146 countries. These 146 economies account for more than 95 percent of 

the world’s population and 98 percent of the world’s nominal GDP (World 

Bank, 2008). Figure 1 shows a world map highlighting the countries that 

were covered in the 2005 ICP, and a list of all countries is provided in 

table 1. Most of the countries included for the first time in this round are 

low-income countries in Africa. The number of African countries included 

more than doubled from 22 in 1996 to 48 in 2005. Several new Asian coun-

*ICP countries from 1996 missing in 2005 are: Greece, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and 12 

countries from the Carribean.

1980-2005 (40)

1996-2005 (59)

2005 (46)

Not current members*

Figure 1

Countries covered by the 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP)
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Table 1

Countries in the 2005 ICP Round

Latin America Asia Africa West Asia CIS Europe/OECD

Argentina** Bangladesh* Angola Bahrain* Armenia* Belgium**

Bolivia** Bhutan Burundi Iraq Azerbaijan* Denmark**

Brazil** Brunei Darussalam Benin* Jordan* Belarus* Germany*

Chile** Cambodia Burkina Faso Kuwait Georgia* Spain**

Colombia China Botswana** Lebanon* Kazakhstan* France**

Ecuador** Fiji* Central African Rep. Oman* Kyrgyz Rep.* Ireland**

Peru** Hong Kong** Côte d'Ivoire* Qatar* Moldova* Italy**

Paraguay** India Cameroon* Saudi Arabia Tajikistan* Luxembourg**

Uruguay* Indonesia** Congo, Rep.* Syria* Ukraine* Netherlands**

Venezuela** Iran* Comoros Yemen* Russia* Austria**

Lao PDR Cape Verde Portugal**

Macao Djibouti Finland**

Malaysia Egypt* Sweden*

Maldives Ethiopia United Kingdom**

Mongolia* Gabon* Cyprus

Nepal* Ghana Czech Republic*

Pakistan** Gambia, The Estonia*

Philippines** Guinea-Bissau Hungary**

Singapore* Equatorial Guinea Latvia*

Sri Lanka** Guinea* Lithuania*

Taiwan Kenya* Malta

Thailand* Liberia Poland**

Vietnam* Lesotho Slovakia*

Morocco** Slovenia*

Madagascar** Bulgaria*

Mali* Romania*

Mozambique Turkey*

Mauritania Iceland*

Mauritius* Norway**

Malawi* Switzerland*

Namibia Croatia

Niger Macedonia*

Nigeria** Albania*

Rwanda Bosnia & 

 Herzegovina

Sudan Montenegro

Senegal** Serbia

Sierra Leone* Australia*

São Tomé and Principe New Zealand*

Swaziland* Japan**

Chad Korea**

Togo Canada*

Tunisia** Mexico*

Tanzania** United States**

Uganda Israel**

South Africa

Congo, Dem. Rep.

Zambia**

Zimbabwe*

* Denotes countries (59) present in the 1996 International Comparison Program (ICP) and not in the 1980 ICP. ** Denotes countries (40) present 

both in the 1996 and the 1980 ICP.

Countries from 1996 missing in 2005 are Greece, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and 12 countries from the Carribean. Greece is not available at the 

basic heading but is included at the aggregate level by the World Bank.

OECD = Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

 Yellow: included for the first time in the 2005 ICP.
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tries have been included, most notably China and India. In Latin America, 

Colombia has been added, while 12 Caribbean countries were excluded. 

The Commonwealth of Independent States no longer covers Turkmenistan 

and Uzbekistan. In West Asia, Iraq and Kuwait were added, while the 

countries added to the Eurostat/Organisation for Economic Co-operation 

and Development (OECD) group include Cyprus and Malta in addition to 

Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia.1

Problems in comparing expenditures across countries occur due to differences in currency. Using exchange rates to convert expenditures to a single 

currency may not always be desirable since exchange rates fail to account 

for the fact that services are cheaper in developing countries. The 2005 ICP 

uses a new methodology to compare relative price levels and GDP levels 

across the 146 countries included in this round.2 This time, the world was 

divided into 6 regions: 5 geographic regions—Africa (48 countries included), 

Asia Pacific (23 countries), West Asia (11 countries), South America (10 

countries), and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (10 countries)—and the OECD and other European countries, plus Israel and Russia 

(46 countries). In earlier rounds, one product list was used for all countries 

covered, and prices for these products needed to be collected. However, 

consumption varies sufficiently across regions, making such a common 

product list impractical. For the 2005 round, each of the regions was able 

to develop its own product lists and determine its purchasing power parity 

(PPP) and volume shares independently. Later, the regional results were 

linked into a global world comparison model, which left the regional relative 

parities intact. The linking was accomplished by a methodology using 19 ring 

countries, thus providing representatives from each region.3

To facilitate the analysis, the 144 countries covered by the 2005 ICP are 

divided into low-, middle-, and high-income countries, based on their income 

relative to that of the United States.4 Low-income countries represent those 

with real per capita income less than 15 percent of the U.S. level, middleincome countries are those with income between 15 and 45 percent of the 

U.S. level, and high-income countries have per capita income equal to or 

greater than 45 percent of the U.S. level. This criterion for grouping indicates 

that the majority of Sub-Saharan African countries, poor transition economies such as Mongolia and Turkmenistan, and low-income Middle Eastern 

and Asian countries such as Yemen and Nepal fall within the first group. 

High-income countries include most Western European countries, Australia, 

New Zealand, Canada, and the United States; while the middle-income 

countries include better-off transition economies such as Estonia, Hungary, 

Slovenia, North African countries, and many Latin American countries. 

Budget Shares and Volume of Consumption5

The average budget shares for the aggregate consumption categories and 

each of the three country groups are presented in table 2. In the past, the 

food grouping included food prepared and consumed at home, plus beverages and tobacco. In the 2005 ICP round, food for the first time includes food 

consumed away from home, captured under the “other food” category. As 

expected, the budget shares for food tend to decrease as incomes rise, ranging 

from over 73 percent of the total budget in Tanzania to about 14 percent in 

the United States. These shares are very close to those of the 1996 round, an 

1India and Colombia were in ICP 

Phases I, II, III, and IV. They were not 

included in the 1996 ICP data.

2Regional total sums to 148 countries, 

but Egypt appears in both the African 

and West Asia regions and Russia 

appears in both the OECD and CIS 

regions. This discussion draws heavily on Diewert (2010), who provides 

detailed methodological information on 

the 2005 ICP.

3Ring countries serve as a small sample 

of countries stratified by regions that 

are both representative of their region 

and have available a wide range of 

goods and services found in countries 

outside of their region.

4This classification facilitates analysis 

in this publication and is not based 

on any generally accepted criteria for 

classification. Since the classification 

is based on the ICP data used in this 

analysis, some countries may be in a 

group with which they normally would 

not be associated. Although the 2005 

ICP covers 146 countries, Greece is 

not available at the basic heading level 

and Comoros was excluded from the 

analysis.

5For detailed data on volume of consumption, nominal expenditures, and 

budget shares for each country, see 

World Bank (2008).
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indication that income levels and corresponding budget shares do not tend 

to change dramatically over relatively short periods of time. Although the 

range of budget shares for clothing and footwear is not as large as for food, 

the average budget shares are also higher for low-income countries compared 

with the other two groups. Interestingly, even the budget share for education is slightly lower for high-income countries than for middle-income and 

low-income countries, a result that differs from the 1996 ICP data. However, 

comparisons between the two rounds have to be treated with caution given 

the differences in how the data were collected. The proportion of the total 

budget spent on housing is lowest in low-income countries and fairly similar 

in middle- and high-income countries, while the budget share on house 

furnishings is fairly similar across all income groups. Health spending budget 

shares clearly rise with income (from 4.5 percent in low-income countries 

to 8.9 percent in high-income countries). This is also true for spending on 

recreation, a luxury good for which budget shares vary between 3.1 and 9.5 

percent. Transportation and communications budget shares are highest in 

middle-income countries at 15.5 percent, followed by high-income countries 

at 14.9 percent. 

The conditional budget shares for the eight food subcategories are also 

presented in table 2. Cereals, fats and oils, and fruits and vegetables account 

for almost three times as much of the total food budget in low-income 

countries as in high-income countries.6 The fruits and vegetable category 

includes roots and tubers, a cheap source of calories in many poor countries.

Therefore, a large portion of the food budget in Sub-Saharan countries—for 

example, 50 percent in Rwanda and 46 percent in Côte d’Ivoire, where more 

than one-third of daily per capita calorie consumption is derived from roots 

and tubers—is spent on fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, the budget 

shares for meat and dairy are highest in middle-income countries, and the 

budget share for beverages/tobacco is highest in high-income countries. 

Similarly , the budget share for the other food category—which includes 

away-from-home food purchases—is highest in high-income countries (37 

percent), over 2.5 times the budget share in low-income countries. 

6 Including roots and tubers in the vegetable category is somewhat misleading 

as roots and tubers constitute the major 

staple crop in some low-income African 

countries, similar to basic grains in 

other countries. In most other countries, 

the fruits and vegetables group consists 

of higher-value food products.

Table 2

Budget shares for broad aggregates and conditional budget shares for food categories

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport & 

communications Recreation Education Other

Lowincome 0.485 0.061 0.135 0.052 0.045 0.102 0.031 0.034 0.054

Middleincome 0.311 0.055 0.183 0.056 0.059 0.155 0.061 0.033 0.087

Highincome 0.204 0.051 0.187 0.060 0.089 0.149 0.095 0.031 0.134

Cereals Meats Fish Dairy

Oils & 

fats

Fruits & 

vegetables Food other

Beverages 

& tobacco

Lowincome 0.233 0.134 0.063 0.078 0.049 0.181 0.146 0.116

Middleincome 0.124 0.172 0.035 0.099 0.030 0.145 0.208 0.187

Highincome 0.086 0.118 0.041 0.066 0.014 0.098 0.369 0.208

Source: 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data, World Bank.
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Two-Stage Cross-Country Demand Model

Our analysis of international food consumption patterns is conducted in two 

steps. The first step involves estimating an aggregate demand system using 

the Florida-Preference Independence (PI) model across nine broad consumption categories: food—which includes food prepared and consumed at home, 

food away from home, and beverages and tobacco—clothing and footwear, 

education, housing, house furnishings and operations, medical care, transport 

and communications, recreation, and other expenditures. The second step 

of the analysis involves a second demand system using the Florida-Slutsky 

model across eight food subcategories: bread and cereals, meat, fish, dairy 

products, fruits and vegetables, oils and fats, beverages and tobacco, and 

other food products. Both the Florida-PI model and the Florida-Slutsky 

model are discussed in more detail later in this section.

Stepwise demand analysis, which assumes that consumers spend their 

income in stages, requires assumptions about the separability of consumer 

preferences. Consumer preferences are independent or strongly separable 

if the preference ordering among goods is not dependent on the quantities 

consumed of any other goods. This concept can be applied to broad product 

groups or categories and is referred to as block independence. Block independence or strong group separability implies that the preference ordering 

among items within one broad consumption group is not dependent on the 

quantities of items consumed in other groups. This assumption enables 

stepwise demand analysis, where in the first stage consumers allocate their 

incomes across broad categories of goods, like food, shelter, and entertainment. In the second stage, consumers spend the amount budgeted to a particular product group on goods within the group. 

While it is reasonable to assume that expenditures among broad consumption 

categories in the first stage of the budgeting process might be independent, 

demand for goods within the food product group may not be independent. 

For example, many food products are substitutes or complements and have 

cross-price effects. Therefore, when estimating the second stage of the 

model, preference independence is generally replaced by weak separability, 

which suggests that food categories are groupwise-dependent. In our analysis 

of the food categories, the Florida-Slutsky model assuming weak separability 

is used instead of the Florida-PI model.

Florida-Preference Independence (PI) Model

The Florida-PI model—also known as the Working-Preference Independence 

model—is an extension of the model developed by Working (1943). In its 

general form, Working’s model expresses budget shares as a linear function 

of real aggregate expenditures and is specified as follows:

. (1)

i

i

E w E = is the budget share for good i, Ei

 represents the expenditure on good 

i, and 1

n

i i E E = =∑ is real aggregate expenditures. i ε is a residual term and 

αi and βi are parameters to be estimated. Since the budget shares across 

log i

i i i i

E

w E

E

= = + + α β ε
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all consumption categories sum to 1, a and β are subject to the following 

adding-up conditions:

. (2)

From equation 1 we can derive the marginal share (θi), which is a measure of 

how an additional unit of expenditure is allocated to the ith good:

. (3)

Note that the marginal share is not constant but varies with affluence, and it 

exceeds the budget share (wi) by bi . Accordingly, when income changes, wi

changes as does the marginal share. 

Using the differential approach to consumer demand, Theil, Chung, and 

Seale (1989) incorporated prices into Working’s model to derive the 

Florida-PI model. The resulting specification can be divided into linear, 

quadratic, and cubic components, as indicated below:

wic = LINEAR + QUADRATIC + CUBIC + eic . (4a)

LINEAR = Real-income term 

 . (4b)

QUADRATIC = Pure-price term

= . (4c)

CUBIC = Substitution term

= . (4d)

The c subscript denotes the country. qc is the natural logarithm of Qc, 

which is a measure of real per capita income, and qc* = (1+qc).

1

1 log log N

i ic c p p N = = ∑ , which is the geometric mean of the price of i (pi

) 

over all countries, and φ is the income flexibility coefficient—the inverse of 

the income elasticity of the marginal utility of income—which is assumed 

constant in the model.

The linear term in the model represents the effect of a change in real 

income—that is, the volume of total expenditures—on the budget share. 

Since the quadratic and cubic terms vanish at geometric mean prices, the 

linear term is also the budget share at geometric mean prices. The quadratic 

term—quadratic because it contains products of α and β—is the pure-price 

term, showing how an increase in price results in a higher budget share on 

good i, even if the volume of expenditures goes down or stays the same. The 

cubic term—cubic because it involves φ—is a substitution term reflecting 

how higher prices cause a lower budget share for good i due to the substitution of good i for other goods.

1 1 1; 0 n n

i i i i α β = = ∑ ∑ = =

(1 log ) i

i i i i i

dE

E w

dE θ α β = = + + = + β

i i c = +α β q

( ) ( )

1

log log

n

ic jc

i i c j j c

i j j

p p

q q

p p

α β α β

=

 

+  − +    ∑

( ) ( ) * *

1

log log

n

ic jc

i i c j j c

i j j

p p

q q

p p

φ α β α β

=

 

+  − +    ∑
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The expenditure elasticity for the Florida-PI model is calculated by the ratio 

of the marginal share to the budget share as follows (see Theil et al., 1989, 

pp. 110-111 for derivation):

, (5)

where, in this case, wic represents the budget share of good i at geometric 

mean prices, c represents the country, θic is the marginal share of good i in 

country c, and βi is the estimated coefficient on qc in the ith good equation.7

Three types of own-price elasticities of demand can be calculated from the 

parameter estimates in the Florida-PI model. The first of these, the Frischdeflated own-price elasticity of good i, is the own-price elasticity when price 

changes and income is compensated to keep the marginal utility of income 

constant. It is given by:

. (6)

The Slutsky (compensated) own-price elasticity measures the change in 

demand for good i when the price of i changes, while real income remains 

unchanged. It is calculated as follows: 

 . (7)

The Cournot (uncompensated) own-price elasticity refers to the situation 

when own-price changes while nominal income remains constant but real 

income changes, and is given by: 

. (8)

How each elasticity measure is applied depends on the needs of the 

researcher. For instance, the Slutsky elasticity is more suitable if the concern 

is the substitution effect of a change in price, while the Cournot elasticity 

encompasses both the substitution and real income effect. Consequently, 

the Slutsky elasticity will be smaller than the Cournot elasticity (in absolute 

value) for a normal good because the real income effect reinforces the substitution effect. However, the difference between these two measures declines 

with affluence since the real income effect decreases with rising income. The 

(absolute) value of the Frisch elasticity is between the Slutsky and Cournot 

elasticity. The three elasticities can be significantly different for low-income 

countries, but are relatively close for high-income countries. 

log 1

log

ic ic i

ic

c ic ic

d E

d E w w

θ β η = = = +

7Because expenditures in this instance 

are spending on all product categories, 

equation (5) is also referred to as the 

income elasticity.

ic i

ic

w

F

w

β φ+ =

( )( ) ( ) 1

1 ic i ic i

ic i

ic

w w

S F w

w

β β φ β+ − − = = − −

( )( ) ( ) ( ) 1 ic i ic i

ic i ic i

ic

w w

C w S w

w

β β φ β β+ − − = − + = − +
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International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

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Florida-Slutsky Model

The Florida-Slutsky model is used to estimate the second stage of the model, 

the food subcategories. Like the Florida-PI model, the Florida-Slutsky model 

has three components: a linear real-income term, a quadratic pure-price term, 

and a linear substitution term replacing the cubic term in the former model, 

that is: 

(9)

.

The πij’s represent the Slutsky price coefficients, a matrix of compensated 

price responses. The compensated (Slutsky) price elasticities may be estimated by the ratio πij ic w , while the uncompensated (Cournot) own-price 

elasticity is given by the difference between the compensated elasticity and 

the income effect, that is ( ) πij ic ic i w w − + β . Similar to the Florida-PI 

model, the expenditure elasticity for the Florida-Slutsky model can be calculated at geometric mean prices using the formula given by equation 5. 

Conditional Florida-Slutsky Model

The Florida Slutsky model can be written in terms of a conditional demand 

system—that is, the demand for good i contained in group Sg conditional on 

group expenditures. The conditional Florida-Slutsky model is:

(10)

 ,

where * / w w W ic ic gc = , the conditional budget share of good g i S ∈ , wic is the 

unconditional budget share of good g i S ∈ , Wgc is the budget share of group 

Sg in country c, i p is the geometric mean price of good g i S ∈ , qgc is the 

log of real expenditures on group Sg, and * *

, α β i i and * πij are conditional 

parameters to be estimated where * πij is the conditional Slutsky (compensated) price parameter.

Expenditure and price elasticities estimated from the conditional FloridaSlutsky model are conditional on total food expenditures. The unconditional 

demand elasticities can be obtained using the parameters estimated in the first 

step of the analysis. For example, the unconditional expenditure elasticity 

( U ηic ) is simply the conditional expenditure elasticity * * * ( 1 ) η β ic = + i ic w multiplied by the income elasticity of demand for food as a group ( η Fc ) obtained 

from the Florida-PI model (equation 5):8

. (11)

( ) w q ic i i c = +α β

( ) ( ) 1log log

n

ic jc

i i c j j c

i j j

p p

q q

p p

α β α β

=

 

+ +  − +    ∑

1

log

n

jc

ij

j j

p

p

π

=

 

+  

  ∑

* * * w q ic i i gc = + α β

, * * * * ( ) log ( )log g

g

g

i S c jc

i i gc j j gc j S i S j

p p

q q

p p

α β α β ∈

∈ ∈

 

+ +  − +    ∑

* log g

jc

ij j S j

p

p

π ∈ +∑

U *

ic Fc ic g η η η = ∀ ∈i S

8 The subscript Fc is used instead of 

ic since we are referring to the food 

group. 
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The unconditional Frisch own-price elasticity is given by:

(12)

where Θgc is the marginal share for group Sg in country c, * / ic ic gc θ θ = Θ

is the conditional marginal share of good g i S ∈ , θic is the unconditional 

marginal share of good i, and φ is the income flexibility parameter estimated 

in stage one using the Florida-PI model.9

The unconditional Slutsky price elasticity is given by:

, (13)

where * * * / ε π ijc ij ic = w is the conditional Slutsky price elasticity for good i in 

country c with respect to changes in the price of good j. / gc Φ = Θ gc gc φ W ; * ηic and * η jc are the conditional expenditure elasticities for i and j, respectively, in country c; and η gc is the unconditional expenditure elasticity for 

the group (food, in our case) in country c.

The unconditional Cournot price elasticity can be estimated using the unconditional Slutsky elasticity, as given by equation 13: 

 . (14)

*

*

*

u gc ic

i gc ic

gc ic

F

W w

φ θ

φη η

Θ = =

9 The unconditional and conditional 

Frisch own-price elasticities of good 

g i S ∈ are equal.

( ) * * * * 1 gc ijc ijc gc ic jc ic w W gc ε ε η η = +Φ − η

* * C w W ijc ijc ic jc gc gc = − ε η η
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Estimation Procedure and Results

The parameters in the Florida-PI and the Florida-Slutsky model were estimated by maximum likelihood (ML) using the scoring method (Harvey, 

1990, pp. 133-135) and the GAUSS software. Similar to Seale et al. (2003), 

groups of countries had variances of differing magnitudes resulting in heteroskedasticity that was country/group-specific. Consequently, the ML estimator used in this analysis explicitly takes heteroskedasticity into account. 

According to Theil et al. (1989), the covariance matrix for the group of 

countries in the original ICP data rounds differs from that of the newly added 

countries in latter data phases. Following Seale et al. (2003, p. 23), three 

country groups are considered: group 1 is all countries included in the first 

three phases of ICP data collection, group 2 includes the countries added in 

phase 4, and group 3 includes all newly added countries since the 1996 data 

round. For more details on the ML procedure when the covariance matrix is 

heteroskedastic by country groups, see Seale et al. (2003, pp. 20-23).

Seale and Regmi (2006) note that poor quality data for some countries, 

particularly low-income countries and newly added countries, are a 

continuing problem with ICP data. While the possibility of data outliers 

could be ignored, this could lead to model estimates being unreliable. 

To identify the outliers, we follow Theil et al. (1989) and calculate the information inaccuracy measure from statistical information theory. The model 

estimates reported here account for the identified outlier countries. The 

details of this procedure are in Seale et al. (2003, pp. 50-51).

Aggregate Model Estimates

Table 3 presents the estimated parameters for the first stage (aggregate 

categories) from equations 4a-4d. The ML estimation procedure resulted in 

two measures of heteroskedasticity (K2 and K3). Since the heteroskedasticity 

measure for country group 1 is normalized to equal one, K2 and K3 measure 

the heteroskedasticity of groups 2 and 3 relative to group 1. The estimates 

for the K’s both exceed 1, confirming the presence of heteroskedasticity. The 

negative beta (β) estimates for food, beverages, and tobacco; clothing and 

footwear; and education indicate that these consumption categories are necessities. All other consumption categories are luxuries. The following categories have near-zero β estimates: clothing and footwear; housing and utilities; 

furnishing, household equipment, and maintenance; and education. Thus, 

the income elasticity for these categories is close to unity. The β estimate for 

food, beverages, and tobacco is by far the largest in absolute value at -0.108. 

Our estimate is smaller than that obtained by Theil et al. (-0.134) (1989, table 

5-4, p. 105), and by Seale et al. ( 0.135) (2003, table 5, p. 24). Both studies 

used ICP data from previous years. The smaller value in this analysis could 

be due to an increase in global affluence, resulting in a smaller share of 

additional income being allocated to food, or due to the relative affluence of 

newly added countries—such as China, India, and Taiwan—to the 2005 ICP 

data series. As with previous estimates, our estimate retains the property of 

the strong version of Engel’s law: when income doubles, the budget share of 

food declines by approximately 10 percent (Theil et al., 1989, p. 44).
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Marginal Shares for Consumption Aggregates

Marginal shares measure how an additional dollar of income in a particular 

country is allocated across the nine broad consumption categories. The 

marginal share estimates for the 144 countries are plotted in figure 2, which 

illustrates how the marginal share for a consumption category varies by 

country based on the level of affluence. These estimates are derived using 

equation 3 and the beta estimate from equations 4a-4d, and reported for each 

country in appendix table 7. Low-income countries allocate a greater portion 

of an additional unit of income to food. As countries become more affluent, 

the portion of additional income allocated to food decreases and a greater 

portion is allocated to other expenditures such as recreation and health. For 

instance, a dollar increase in income would cause food expenditures in the 

Democratic Republic of Congo to increase by 63 cents, but only by 6 cents in 

the United States. In contrast, expenditures on health would increase by less 

than 1 cent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while recreation expenditures would not increase at all. In the United States, health expenditures 

would increase by 12 cents and recreation expenditures by 13 cents with an 

additional dollar of income. 

Table 3 

Maximum likelihood estimates of the aggregate model, 144 countries, 20051

Parameter Standard error

Income flexibility φ -0.732 0.034*

Beta β

Food, beverage, and tobacco -0.108 0.005*

Clothing and footwear -0.002 0.002*

Housing and utilities 0.011 0.004*

Furnishing, household equipment, and maintenance 0.003 0.001*

Medical and health 0.020 0.002*

Transportation and communication 0.022 0.003*

Recreation and culture 0.026 0.002*

Education -0.002 0.002*

Other 0.030 0.002*

Alpha α

Food, beverage, and tobacco 0.165 0.010*

Clothing and footwear 0.052 0.004*

Housing and utilities 0.183 0.007*

Furnishing, household equipment, and maintenance 0.060 0.003*

Medical and health 0.096 0.005*

Transportation and communication 0.173 0.006*

Recreation and culture 0.103 0.003*

Education 0.027 0.004*

Other 0.141 0.005*

Heteroskedasticity measures

K2 0.989 0.111*

K3 1.474 0.081*

1Comoros is excluded from the analysis. Egypt and Russia were reported twice and were 

averaged for estimation. Three country groups are considered for heteroskedasticity.

* denotes that the estimate is significant at the 0.01 level. Alpha and beta estimates are 

based on equations 4a-4d.

Source: Authors’ calculation using 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.
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Income and Price Elasticities

The most prominent measures of income and price sensitivity for a good 

are income and own-price elasticities. These measures are not constant but 

should vary with different levels of affluence. For example, the income 

elasticity of demand for a necessity such as food should be larger for a lowincome country than for a high-income country. Own-price elasticities of 

demand should also be larger in absolute value for low-income countries 

than for high-income countries (Timmer, 1981). The expenditure and ownprice elasticities derived from the aggregate Florida-PI model are reported in 

appendix tables 1-4 and have the desired properties. 

Appendix table 1 presents the income elasticities (equation 5) calculated 

at geometric mean prices for the 144 countries. The income elasticity 

value measures the estimated percentage change in demand for a particular 

consumption category if total expenditures on all categories increase by 

1 percent. From equation 5, we note that a luxury good (income elasticity 

greater than 1) is associated with positive values of βi, while a necessity 

(income elasticity less than 1 but greater than 0) is associated with negative values of βi . If βi

 equals zero, the good is unitary elastic. The estimated 

budget shares for medical/health in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 

and recreation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Liberia, 

Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Mozambique, Malawi and 

Rwanda were negative. The income elasticities for these countries and 

consumption categories are estimated using actual budget shares.

The income elasticity of demand for food, beverages, and tobacco varies 

greatly among countries and is highest among low-income countries, where 

United States

Per capita income Congo, 

Democratic

Republic

Other

Education

Recreation

Transportation &

communication

Health

Furnishings

Housing

Clothing

Food

1.00

Marginal share value

.90

.80

.70

.60

.50

.40

.30

.20

.10

0

Figure 2

Distribution of an additional $1 of income across 144 countries, broad categories1

1

Countries are arranged in ascending order of affluence.

Source: Author’s calculations using the 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.
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it varies from 0.85 for the Democratic Republic of Congo to 0.71 for Tunisia. 

It ranges between 0.71 and 0.57 for middle-income countries, and from 0.56 

to 0.35 for high-income countries. The average income elasticity for lowincome countries is 0.78, over 1.5 times the average for high-income countries (0.50). The average food-income elasticity for high-income countries 

derived using 1996 ICP data (Seale et al., 2003, table 7, pp. 26-28) is smaller 

(0.34) than our estimate. Unlike the prior analysis, restaurant and catering 

expenditures are included among food in the 2005 ICP data, raising the 

income elasticity for food in high-income countries.

The income elasticity for clothing and footwear, another necessity, also 

decreases in value with income. However, given that the estimated value of 

βi is close to zero, the income elasticity values are close to unity for all countries. Like clothing and footwear, education is also a necessity, and given the 

small value of βi, the income elasticity for education is also close to unity for 

all countries. The average value ranges from 0.93 for low-income countries 

to 0.91 for high-income countries. Using 1996 ICP data, Seale, Regmi and 

Bernstein (2003, table 7, pp. 26-28) found that education was a luxury category with an income elasticity ranging from 1.08 for low-income countries 

to 1.07 for high-income countries. Although the two estimates are close and 

are likely not statistically different, the fact that the more current estimate is 

smaller may indicate growing global affluence.

All other consumption categories are luxuries, with income elasticities 

greater than 1. The elasticity values are higher for less affluent countries 

and span a wide range. Recreation is by far the most luxurious good, with 

an income elasticity of demand ranging from 13.1 for Chad to 1.25 for the 

United States. The categories medical/health and “other” are the next most 

luxurious goods, followed by transportation/communication, housing, and 

house furnishings. The income elasticity for medical and health also spans a 

wide range, from 8.6 for Liberia to 1.21 for the United States. 

Using equations 6-8, three types of own-price elasticities of demand for a 

good can be calculated from the parameter estimates of the Florida-PI model. 

Appendix tables 2-4 present the estimated Frisch, Slutsky, and Cournot ownprice elasticities for the 9 aggregate commodity groups, across 144 countries. In the tables, the countries are listed in ascending order of affluence. 

The elasticity measures perform in accordance with Timmer’s proposition: 

own-price elasticities of demand are larger in absolute value for low-income 

countries than for high-income countries. The Cournot and Frisch own-price 

elasticities decline monotonically in absolute value from poor to rich countries. The Cournot and Frisch own-price elasticities for food are all larger 

than the corresponding Slutsky elasticity. However, with rising affluence the 

real income effect of a food-price change becomes increasingly smaller and 

the three elasticities converge (fig. 3). The discussion that follows is limited 

to the Slutsky own-price elasticity for food since it is the only measure that 

did not fully perform in accordance with Timmer’s proposition. 

In appendix table 3, the Slutsky own-price elasticity (equation 7) of demand 

for food, beverages, and tobacco begins at -0.23 for the Congo, increases (in 

absolute value) to -0.384 (Malaysia to Argentina), and declines thereafter 

(absolutely) to -0.24 for the United States. To clarify the reason for this, take 
15

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the logarithmic derivative of equation 7, using equation 1 and suppressing 

the error term: 

. (15)

If good i is a luxury, βi > 0, and the derivative is negative, as real per capita 

income increases, the Slutsky own-price elasticity of the good decreases. 

If good i is a necessity, βi < 0 so that – βi > 0. If the term in brackets on the 

right side of equation 15 is positive, then both the numerator and the derivative are positive. This is the case for food, beverages, and tobacco. When wic

is sufficiently large—that is, when Qc is sufficiently small—the derivative 

for this good is positive for the poorest countries. Eventually, however, wic

becomes sufficiently small so that the derivative becomes negative. In this 

case, the Slutsky own-price elasticity becomes smaller in absolute value. The 

turning point, when the Slutsky own-price elasticity starts declining with 

increasing per capita income, is at the per capita income level of Argentina—

or at 22 percent of the per capita income level of the United States.

Food Subgroups—Estimates and Elasticities

Table 4 presents the estimated parameters for the second-stage model (equation 10), the food subgroups. The estimate for K3 exceeds 1, confirming the 

presence of heteroskedasticity in country group 3. The beta (β) estimates 

for cereals, meat, fish, oils and fat, and fruits and vegetables are negative, 

indicating that these food-product categories are (conditionally) expenditureinelastic, while the remaining categories are conditionally expenditureelastic.10 The negative beta estimates for cereals and fruits/vegetables are larger 

(in absolute value) than for the other food categories. These categories include 

expenditures on grains, roots, and tubers, and both categories are particularly 

sensitive to the level of affluence. Table 4 also includes the diagonal elements 

( ) ( )

( )( )

2 log 1

1

i ic i i

c ic ic i ic i

d S w

Q w w w

φ β β β

β β

− + −   = + − −

10 The parameter estimates in table 

8 are conditional on total per capita 

food expenditures, not total per capita 

expenditures.

Figure 3

Own-price elasticity for food by per capita income1

United States

Per capita income

Low-income Middle-income High-income

Congo, 

Democratic

Republic

1

Countries are arranged in ascending order of affluence.

Source: Author’s calculations using the 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.

-0.90

-0.80

-0.70

-0.60

-0.50

-0.40

-0.30

-0.20

-0.10

-0.00

Own-price 

elasticity value

Frisch Slutsky Cournot
16

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of the Slutsky matrix, which are the compensated own-price effects for each 

food subgroup. These effects are all negative, satisfying the law of demand.

Marginal share estimates for each food subgroup, conditional on total food 

expenditures, are plotted in figure 4 and reported in appendix table 8 by 

country. These estimates measure how an additional unit of food expenditures is allocated across the eight food subgroups. Figure 4 illustrates how 

the marginal share for a food category varies by country based on the level 

of affluence. With low-income countries, a greater portion of an additional 

unit of food expenditures is allocated to cereals and fruits/vegetables, which 

include staples such as corn meal and rice. As countries become more 

affluent, the portion of additional food expenditures allocated to cereals 

and fruits/vegetables decreases, and a greater portion is allocated to “other” 

food expenditures, which includes restaurant expenditures and high-end 

purchases, and beverages/tobacco. For instance, a dollar increase in food 

Table 4 

Maximum-likelihood estimates of the food subgroups model, 

144 countries, 2005a

Parameter Standard error

Beta β*

Cereals -0.077 0.008*

Meat -0.001 0.007

Fish -0.009 0.004**

Dairy and eggs 0.002 0.004

Oils and fat -0.014 0.003*

Fruit and vegetables -0.039 0.007*

Food other 0.088 0.010*

Beverages and tobacco 0.051 0.008*

Alpha α*

Cereals 0.062 0.011*

Meat 0.143 0.010*

Fish 0.037 0.006*

Dairy and eggs 0.084 0.007*

Oils and fat 0.014 0.004*

Fruit and vegetables 0.100 0.010*

Food other 0.333 0.014*

Beverages and tobacco 0.228 0.011*

Slutsky own-price effects * πii

Cereals -0.205 0.033*

Meat -0.136 0.023*

Fish -0.102 0.012*

Dairy and eggs -0.100 0.015*

Oils and fat -0.036 0.006*

Fruit and vegetables -0.210 0.022*

Food other -0.231 0.051*

Beverages and tobacco -0.127 0.027

Heteroskedasticity measures

K2 0.851 0.019*

K3 1.090 0.013*

aComoros is excluded from the analysis. Egypt and Russia were reported twice and were 

averaged for estimation. Three country groups are considered for heteroskedasticity. * and ** 

denote significance at the 0.01 and 0.05 level, respectively. Alpha, beta, and pi estimates are 

based on equations 10a−10c. 

Source: Authors’ calculation using 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.
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Figure 4

Distribution of an additional $1 of income across 144 countries, food subcategories1

United States

Per capita income Congo, 

Democratic

Republic

1.00

Marginal share value

.90

.80

.70

.60

.50

.40

.30

.20

.10

0

Beverages and tobacco

Food other

Fruits and vegetables

Oils and fats

Dairy

Fish

Meats

Cereals

1

Countries are arranged in ascending order of affluence.

Source: Author’s calculations using the 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.

expenditures results in cereal expenditures in the Democratic Republic of 

Congo increasing by 31 cents (appendix table 8). However, cereal expenditures in the United States decrease by 1.5 cents, indicating the lower status 

afforded this category by most consumers in rich countries. In contrast, 

expenditures on “other” food increase by only 5 cents in the Democratic 

Republic of Congo, but by 42 cents in the United States.

The expenditure and price elasticities calculated using the Florida-Slutsky 

model are conditional on a given food budget. In other words, the expenditure elasticity measures the percentage change in demand given a percentage 

change in total food expenditures, while the price elasticity measures the 

percentage response given a percentage change in price assuming a given 

food budget. However, the conditional elasticities can be converted to unconditional elasticities using the parameters estimated from the Florida-PI model 

in the first stage, as specified by equations 11-14.

The unconditional expenditure elasticity (equation 11) measures the 

percentage change in demand from a percentage change in overall income 

(or total spending). The unconditional income elasticities are all less than 

1, except for “other” food and beverages/tobacco in low-income countries 

(appendix table 5). This is consistent with conventional theory that food is a 

necessity and not a luxury item in household expenditures. Given the relatively low food budget share of beverages/tobacco in many low-income countries, this category can be considered a luxury item among consumers in some 

poorer countries.
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Similar to the estimated income elasticity for aggregate consumption categories, the income elasticity for the food subcategories is largest in the poorer 

countries and declines in magnitude with affluence. Across each country, 

staple food items (with negative * β i ) have smaller elasticities than the more 

conditionally elastic food items such as beverages/tobacco, meat, and dairy. 

For example, the income elasticity for cereals ranges from 0.69 in the 

Democratic Republic of Congo to -0.09 in the United States. In contrast, the 

elasticity for beverages and tobacco is higher across all countries, ranging 

from 7.1 in Liberia to 0.42 in the United States.

The conditional Slutsky elasticity is given by * * * / ε π ijc ij ic = w , where * πij is 

the conditional Slutsky price parameter in country c for good i with respect 

to good j, and * wic is the conditional fitted budget share (at geometric 

mean prices) of food group g i S ∈ in country c. Since for a given food 

subgroup i, * πij is invariant across countries, the conditional Slutsky elasticity for food subgroup i will be greater for smaller budget shares. Poorer 

countries typically have larger budget shares for staple items such as breads 

and cereals, which form a smaller share of food budget among wealthier 

countries. Therefore, contrary to theory, the estimated conditional Slutsky 

own-price elasticities for cereals may be larger for wealthier countries. This 

problem of a constant * πij continues if one calculates unconditional Slutsky 

price elasticities from the conditional one using equation 13.

The unconditional Frisch own-price elasticities are not a function of * πij

and do not suffer the problem encountered in calculating the unconditional 

Slutsky elasticities. Using the estimated parameters from stage one and two 

and using equation 12, Frisch own-price elasticities are calculated. These 

unconditional own-price elasticities (appendix table 6) represent elasticities 

estimated at a point when the marginal utility of income is held constant. 

The values of the Frisch own-price elasticities lie between the values of the 

Slutsky own-price elasticities—when real income is held constant—and the 

Cournot own-price elasticities—when nominal income is held constant—and 

can be considered a reasonable estimate of the average own-price elasticities for the food subcategories. The Slutsky and Cournot elasticities are not 

estimated for these products, as their calculation using equations 13 and 14 

requires the assumption of preference independence.

The Frisch own-price elasticities for the food subcategories vary by affluence 

according to economic theory; consumers in low-income countries are more 

responsive to price changes than are those in higher-income countries. For 

instance, the value for breads and cereals ranges from 0.50 in the Democratic 

Republic of Congo to 0.06 in the United States. The absolute values of the 

own-price elasticities are smaller for food groups such as breads/cereals, 

oils/fats, and fruits/vegetables, and particularly large for “other” foods and 

beverages/tobacco. Also, low-income countries are particularly sensitive 

to changes in the price of “other” food and beverages/tobacco, relative to 

middle- and high-income countries. Given a 1-percent increase in the price 

of “other” food, consumption in this category declines on average by more 

than 1 percent in low-income countries but by less than 0.5 percent in highincome countries.
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Conclusion

This report provides income and price elasticities across 144 countries for 9 

aggregate consumption categories and 8 food subcategories. No empirical 

work to date has been conducted across as many countries and consumption 

categories. The results of this research confirm many of the results obtained 

and established by earlier studies. Low-income countries spend a greater 

portion of their budget on necessities, such as food, while richer countries 

spend a greater proportion of their income on luxuries, such as recreation. 

Low-value staples, such as cereals, account for a larger share of the food 

budget in poorer countries, while high-value food items are a larger share 

of the food budget in richer countries. Low-income countries are also more 

responsive to changes in income and food prices and, therefore, make larger 

adjustments to their food consumption patterns when incomes and prices 

change. However, our study illustrates that adjustments to price and income 

changes are not made uniformly across all food categories. Staple food 

consumption changes the least, while consumption of higher-value food 

items changes the most. 

The income and price elasticities estimated here can be used as inputs in 

future work designed to forecast future food demand and supply, and in projects designed to simulate the effects of different government policy options. 

In addition to the actual elasticity estimates, parameters estimated from our 

models can be used (with more recent expenditure data) to estimate new 

elasticities for more recent years for the countries included in our analysis, as 

well as for other countries (Cox and Alm, 2007). 
20

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Economic Research Service / USDA

References

Cox, W.M., and R. Alm. 2007. “Opportunity Knocks: Selling Our Services to the 

World,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas 2007 Annual Report. Dallas, TX.

Diewert, Erwin, 2010. “New Methodological Developments for the International Comparison Program,” The Review of Income and Wealth. June.

Harvey, A. 1990. The Econometric Analysis of Time Series. 2nd edition, MIT 

Press, Cambridge, MA.

Hertel, T.W., and L.A. Winters, 2006. Poverty and the WTO: Impacts of the 

Doha Development Agenda. Washington, DC: World Bank Publications.

Kravis, I.B., F. Kennessey, A.W. Heston, and R. Summers. 1975. A System 

of International Comparisons of Gross Product and Purchasing Power. 

Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.

Kravis, I.B., A.W. Heston, and R. Summers. 1978. International 

Comparisons of Real Product and Purchasing Power, Johns Hopkins 

University Press (for the World Bank), , Baltimore, MD.

Reimer, J.J., and T.W. Hertel, 2003. “International Cross Section Estimates 

of Demand for Use in the GTAP Model,” GTAP Working Paper No. 22, 

Center for Global Trade Analysis, Department of Agricultural Economics, 

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Reimer, J.J., and T.W. Hertel. 2004. “Estimation of International Demand 

Behavior for Use with Input-Output Based Data,” Economic Systems 

Research, Vol. 16(4), pp. 347-66.

Seale, James L., and Anita Regmi. 2006. “Modeling International 

Consumption Patterns,” Review of Income and Wealth, Vol. 52(4), 

pp. 603-24.

Seale, J.L., A. Regmi, and J. Bernstein. 2003. International Evidence on 

Food Consumption Patterns, Technical Bulletin No. 1904, Economic 

Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Timmer, C.P. 1981. “Is There Curvature in the Slutsky Matrix?” Review of 

Economics and Statistics, Vol. 63, pp. 395-402.

Theil, H., C.F. Chung, and J.L. Seale, Jr. 1989. International Evidence on 

Consumption Patterns. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, Inc.

Valenzuela, Ernesto, Kym Anderson, and Thomas Hertel. 2007. “Impacts 

of Trade Reform: Sensitivity of Model Results to Key Assumptions,” 

International Economics and Economic Policy, Vol. 4, pp. 395-420.

von Braun, J. 2007. The World Food Situation: New Driving Forces and 

Required Actions, Food Policy Report No. 18, IFPRI, Washington, DC.
21

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Winters, L.A. 2005. “The European Agricultural Trade Policies and 

Poverty,” European Review of Agricultural Economics, Vol. 32(3), 

pp. 319–46.

Working, H. 1943. “Statistical Laws of Family Expenditure,” Journal of the 

American Statistical Association, Vol. 38, pp. 43-56. 

World Bank, 2008. “Global Purchasing Power Parities and Real Expenditures, 2005 International Comparison Program.” Washington, DC.
22

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 1

Income elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical & 

health

Transport 

& 

communications Recreation Education Other

Low-income countries:

Congo, Dem. Rep. 0.854 0.970 1.088 1.061 1.573a 1.381 3.876a 0.939 2.161a

Burundi 0.839 0.969 1.084 1.059 1.573a 1.306 1.868a 0.937 1.640a

Liberia 0.836 0.969 1.083 1.059 8.620 1.295 2.525a 0.936 1.415a

Zimbabwe 0.831 0.969 1.082 1.058 4.286 1.281 2.050a 0.936 4.696

Ethiopia 0.827 0.968 1.081 1.058 3.275 1.270 5.406a 0.935 3.464

Guinea-Bissau 0.827 0.968 1.081 1.058 3.219 1.269 1.485a 0.935 3.399

Niger 0.827 0.968 1.081 1.058 3.174 1.269 1.659a 0.935 3.346

Mozambique 0.822 0.968 1.080 1.057 2.665 1.259 2.163a 0.934 2.764

Malawi 0.819 0.968 1.079 1.057 2.424 1.252 1.325a 0.934 2.496

Rwanda 0.818 0.968 1.079 1.057 2.355 1.250 3.074a 0.934 2.419

Chad 0.814 0.968 1.078 1.056 2.182 1.244 13.053 0.933 2.231

Angola 0.814 0.968 1.078 1.056 2.160 1.243 11.097 0.933 2.208

Gambia, The 0.813 0.968 1.078 1.056 2.134 1.241 9.380 0.933 2.179

Central African 

Republic 0.813 0.968 1.078 1.056 2.120 1.241 8.708 0.933 2.164

Mali 0.813 0.968 1.078 1.056 2.118 1.241 8.614 0.933 2.162

Tanzania 0.812 0.968 1.078 1.056 2.092 1.239 7.524 0.933 2.133

Sierra Leone 0.810 0.968 1.077 1.056 2.031 1.236 5.837 0.933 2.069

Guinea 0.810 0.968 1.077 1.056 2.021 1.236 5.624 0.933 2.058

Burkina Faso 0.808 0.968 1.077 1.056 1.987 1.234 4.987 0.933 2.021

Zambia 0.806 0.968 1.077 1.056 1.917 1.230 4.052 0.932 1.946

Madagascar 0.805 0.968 1.077 1.056 1.913 1.230 4.012 0.932 1.942

Uganda 0.805 0.968 1.077 1.056 1.909 1.229 3.961 0.932 1.937

Togo 0.804 0.968 1.076 1.055 1.886 1.228 3.733 0.932 1.913

Congo, Rep. 0.803 0.968 1.076 1.055 1.870 1.227 3.590 0.932 1.897

Nepal 0.801 0.968 1.076 1.055 1.820 1.223 3.189 0.932 1.843

Ghana 0.799 0.968 1.076 1.055 1.795 1.221 3.022 0.931 1.817

Mauritania 0.797 0.968 1.075 1.055 1.761 1.219 2.813 0.931 1.781

Bangladesh 0.796 0.968 1.075 1.055 1.756 1.218 2.787 0.931 1.776

Côte d’Ivoire 0.795 0.968 1.075 1.055 1.740 1.217 2.696 0.931 1.758

Benin 0.795 0.968 1.075 1.055 1.735 1.216 2.672 0.931 1.753

Lao PDR 0.795 0.968 1.075 1.055 1.733 1.216 2.665 0.931 1.752

Djibouti 0.791 0.967 1.075 1.055 1.691 1.212 2.463 0.931 1.708

Nigeria 0.791 0.967 1.075 1.055 1.689 1.212 2.451 0.931 1.705

Senegal 0.790 0.967 1.075 1.054 1.680 1.211 2.413 0.930 1.696

Kenya 0.790 0.967 1.075 1.054 1.678 1.211 2.405 0.930 1.694

Cambodia 0.787 0.967 1.074 1.054 1.650 1.208 2.288 0.930 1.664

São Tomé and 

Principe 0.785 0.967 1.074 1.054 1.628 1.206 2.206 0.930 1.642

---continued
23

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 1

Income elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical & 

health

Transport 

& 

communications Recreation Education Other

Cameroon 0.784 0.967 1.074 1.054 1.621 1.205 2.179 0.930 1.634

India 0.782 0.967 1.074 1.054 1.608 1.204 2.133 0.930 1.621

Yemen, Rep. 0.781 0.967 1.073 1.054 1.603 1.203 2.116 0.930 1.615

Mongolia 0.781 0.967 1.073 1.054 1.602 1.203 2.114 0.930 1.615

Vietnam 0.781 0.967 1.073 1.054 1.597 1.203 2.097 0.929 1.610

Iraq 0.779 0.967 1.073 1.054 1.584 1.201 2.052 0.929 1.595

Bhutan 0.777 0.967 1.073 1.054 1.572 1.200 2.016 0.929 1.584

China 0.775 0.967 1.073 1.054 1.562 1.198 1.983 0.929 1.573

Sudan 0.771 0.967 1.072 1.053 1.538 1.195 1.912 0.929 1.548

Lesotho 0.769 0.967 1.072 1.053 1.525 1.194 1.876 0.928 1.535

Tajikistan 0.769 0.967 1.072 1.053 1.524 1.193 1.873 0.928 1.533

Maldives 0.763 0.967 1.072 1.053 1.497 1.190 1.800 0.928 1.505

Pakistan 0.762 0.967 1.072 1.053 1.492 1.189 1.789 0.928 1.501

Morocco 0.760 0.967 1.071 1.053 1.485 1.188 1.770 0.927 1.493

Kyrgyz Republic 0.757 0.967 1.071 1.053 1.474 1.186 1.742 0.927 1.481

Philippines 0.757 0.967 1.071 1.053 1.473 1.186 1.741 0.927 1.481

Cape Verde 0.756 0.967 1.071 1.053 1.470 1.186 1.733 0.927 1.478

Indonesia 0.756 0.967 1.071 1.053 1.469 1.185 1.731 0.927 1.477

Bolivia 0.756 0.967 1.071 1.053 1.468 1.185 1.727 0.927 1.475

Namibia 0.752 0.967 1.071 1.052 1.453 1.183 1.693 0.927 1.460

Sri Lanka 0.750 0.967 1.071 1.052 1.447 1.182 1.679 0.927 1.454

Botswana 0.749 0.967 1.070 1.052 1.443 1.181 1.670 0.926 1.450

Azerbaijan 0.747 0.967 1.070 1.052 1.438 1.180 1.658 0.926 1.445

Gabon 0.746 0.967 1.070 1.052 1.436 1.180 1.653 0.926 1.443

Syrian Arab Republic 0.745 0.966 1.070 1.052 1.432 1.179 1.645 0.926 1.439

Equatorial Guinea 0.740 0.966 1.070 1.052 1.418 1.177 1.613 0.926 1.424

Paraguay 0.738 0.966 1.070 1.052 1.413 1.176 1.603 0.926 1.419

Fiji 0.735 0.966 1.069 1.052 1.407 1.175 1.591 0.925 1.413

Swaziland 0.732 0.966 1.069 1.052 1.401 1.174 1.577 0.925 1.406

Moldova 0.731 0.966 1.069 1.052 1.398 1.173 1.571 0.925 1.403

Egypt, Arab Rep. 0.730 0.966 1.069 1.051 1.394 1.173 1.564 0.925 1.400

Ecuador 0.726 0.966 1.069 1.051 1.386 1.171 1.548 0.925 1.391

Jordan 0.725 0.966 1.069 1.051 1.385 1.171 1.546 0.925 1.390

Georgia 0.724 0.966 1.069 1.051 1.383 1.170 1.542 0.924 1.388

Albania 0.723 0.966 1.069 1.051 1.381 1.170 1.537 0.924 1.386

Colombia 0.722 0.966 1.069 1.051 1.379 1.170 1.533 0.924 1.384

Armenia 0.720 0.966 1.068 1.051 1.376 1.169 1.527 0.924 1.381

Thailand 0.719 0.966 1.068 1.051 1.373 1.168 1.522 0.924 1.378

Peru 0.716 0.966 1.068 1.051 1.369 1.167 1.513 0.924 1.373

Tunisia 0.714 0.966 1.068 1.051 1.365 1.167 1.505 0.924 1.369

---continued
24

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 1

Income elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical & 

health

Transport 

& 

communications Recreation Education Other

Middle-income countries:

Ukraine 0.708 0.966 1.068 1.051 1.356 1.165 1.488 0.923 1.360

Montenegro 0.707 0.966 1.068 1.051 1.355 1.165 1.487 0.923 1.359

Malaysia 0.706 0.966 1.068 1.051 1.353 1.164 1.483 0.923 1.357

Venezuela, RB 0.704 0.966 1.068 1.051 1.350 1.164 1.478 0.923 1.354

Brazil 0.703 0.966 1.067 1.051 1.348 1.163 1.474 0.923 1.352

South Africa 0.698 0.966 1.067 1.050 1.342 1.162 1.464 0.923 1.346

Macedonia, FYR 0.692 0.966 1.067 1.050 1.335 1.160 1.450 0.922 1.339

Turkey 0.691 0.966 1.067 1.050 1.333 1.160 1.447 0.922 1.337

Serbia 0.685 0.966 1.067 1.050 1.327 1.158 1.436 0.922 1.331

Belarus 0.683 0.966 1.067 1.050 1.325 1.158 1.433 0.922 1.329

Bosnia and 

Herzegovina 0.683 0.966 1.067 1.050 1.325 1.158 1.432 0.922 1.329

Saudi Arabia 0.682 0.966 1.066 1.050 1.323 1.157 1.429 0.922 1.327

Romania 0.681 0.966 1.066 1.050 1.323 1.157 1.428 0.922 1.326

Mauritius 0.679 0.966 1.066 1.050 1.321 1.157 1.425 0.921 1.325

Chile 0.679 0.966 1.066 1.050 1.321 1.157 1.425 0.921 1.325

Uruguay 0.679 0.966 1.066 1.050 1.320 1.157 1.424 0.921 1.324

Kazakhstan 0.676 0.966 1.066 1.050 1.317 1.156 1.419 0.921 1.321

Russian Federation 0.672 0.965 1.066 1.050 1.314 1.155 1.412 0.921 1.317

Argentina 0.670 0.965 1.066 1.050 1.312 1.155 1.409 0.921 1.315

Oman 0.667 0.965 1.066 1.050 1.310 1.154 1.406 0.921 1.313

Bulgaria 0.664 0.965 1.066 1.050 1.307 1.153 1.401 0.921 1.310

Iran, Islamic Rep. 0.657 0.965 1.065 1.049 1.301 1.152 1.391 0.920 1.304

Latvia 0.648 0.965 1.065 1.049 1.295 1.150 1.380 0.920 1.298

Mexico 0.646 0.965 1.065 1.049 1.293 1.150 1.378 0.920 1.296

Lebanon 0.642 0.965 1.065 1.049 1.290 1.149 1.373 0.919 1.293

Poland 0.628 0.965 1.065 1.049 1.282 1.147 1.359 0.919 1.285

Lithuania 0.627 0.965 1.065 1.049 1.281 1.147 1.358 0.919 1.284

Croatia 0.626 0.965 1.064 1.049 1.281 1.147 1.358 0.919 1.284

Estonia 0.626 0.965 1.064 1.049 1.281 1.147 1.358 0.919 1.284

Macao, China 0.620 0.965 1.064 1.049 1.278 1.146 1.352 0.918 1.280

Brunei Darussalam 0.614 0.965 1.064 1.049 1.274 1.145 1.347 0.918 1.277

Hungary 0.612 0.965 1.064 1.049 1.273 1.145 1.345 0.918 1.276

Slovak Republic 0.611 0.965 1.064 1.049 1.273 1.144 1.345 0.918 1.276

Bahrain 0.600 0.965 1.064 1.048 1.268 1.143 1.336 0.917 1.270

Korea, Rep. 0.600 0.965 1.064 1.048 1.268 1.143 1.336 0.917 1.270

Czech Republic 0.583 0.965 1.063 1.048 1.261 1.141 1.325 0.917 1.263

Israel 0.575 0.965 1.063 1.048 1.258 1.140 1.321 0.916 1.260

Slovenia 0.572 0.965 1.063 1.048 1.257 1.140 1.319 0.916 1.259

---continued
25

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 1

Income elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical & 

health

Transport 

& 

communications Recreation Education Other

High-income countries:

Qatar 0.564 0.965 1.063 1.048 1.254 1.139 1.315 0.916 1.256

Portugal 0.561 0.965 1.063 1.048 1.253 1.139 1.313 0.916 1.255

Kuwait 0.558 0.965 1.063 1.048 1.252 1.138 1.312 0.916 1.254

Singapore 0.550 0.964 1.063 1.048 1.249 1.138 1.308 0.916 1.251

Malta 0.547 0.964 1.063 1.048 1.248 1.137 1.307 0.915 1.251

Finland 0.530 0.964 1.062 1.048 1.243 1.136 1.299 0.915 1.245

New Zealand 0.525 0.964 1.062 1.048 1.242 1.135 1.297 0.915 1.244

Taiwan, China 0.523 0.964 1.062 1.048 1.242 1.135 1.296 0.915 1.244

Denmark 0.516 0.964 1.062 1.047 1.240 1.135 1.294 0.914 1.242

Sweden 0.513 0.964 1.062 1.047 1.239 1.134 1.293 0.914 1.241

Italy 0.508 0.964 1.062 1.047 1.238 1.134 1.291 0.914 1.240

Belgium 0.507 0.964 1.062 1.047 1.238 1.134 1.291 0.914 1.240

Spain 0.503 0.964 1.062 1.047 1.237 1.134 1.289 0.914 1.239

Hong Kong, China 0.501 0.964 1.062 1.047 1.236 1.134 1.288 0.914 1.238

Ireland 0.495 0.964 1.062 1.047 1.235 1.133 1.287 0.914 1.237

Japan 0.494 0.964 1.062 1.047 1.235 1.133 1.286 0.914 1.237

Australia 0.493 0.964 1.062 1.047 1.235 1.133 1.286 0.914 1.237

France 0.492 0.964 1.062 1.047 1.235 1.133 1.286 0.914 1.236

Cyprus 0.487 0.964 1.062 1.047 1.233 1.133 1.284 0.914 1.235

Germany 0.477 0.964 1.061 1.047 1.232 1.132 1.281 0.913 1.233

Netherlands 0.477 0.964 1.061 1.047 1.231 1.132 1.281 0.913 1.233

Norway 0.474 0.964 1.061 1.047 1.231 1.132 1.280 0.913 1.233

Canada 0.473 0.964 1.061 1.047 1.231 1.132 1.280 0.913 1.232

Iceland 0.473 0.964 1.061 1.047 1.231 1.132 1.280 0.913 1.232

Switzerland 0.462 0.964 1.061 1.047 1.229 1.131 1.277 0.913 1.230

United Kingdom 0.460 0.964 1.061 1.047 1.228 1.131 1.276 0.913 1.230

Austria 0.450 0.964 1.061 1.047 1.226 1.130 1.274 0.913 1.228

Luxembourg 0.386 0.964 1.060 1.047 1.217 1.127 1.260 0.911 1.219

United States 0.346 0.964 1.060 1.046 1.213 1.126 1.254 0.910 1.214

Low-income average 0.779 0.967 1.074 1.054 1.857 1.212 2.919 0.930 1.800

Middle-income average 0.657 0.965 1.066 1.050 1.308 1.153 1.404 0.920 1.311

High-income average 0.495 0.964 1.062 1.047 1.236 1.133 1.288 0.914 1.238

Countries are reported based on ascending per capita real income levels.

aAs the estimated budget shares for medical and health, recreation, and “other” were negative, these values are calculated using 

the actual budget shares. Calculated using equation (5). 

Source: Authors’ calculation using 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.
26

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 2

Frisch own-price elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Food, 

beverages 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical & 

health

Transport &

communications Recreation Education Other

Low-income countries:

Congo, Dem. Rep. -0.627 -0.711 -0.798 -0.779 -1.154a -1.013 -2.843a -0.689 -1.585a

Burundi -0.616 -0.711 -0.795 -0.777 -1.154a -0.958 -1.371a -0.687 -1.203a

Liberia -0.613 -0.711 -0.794 -0.777 -6.323 -0.950 -1.852a -0.687 -8.254

Zimbabwe -0.610 -0.711 -0.793 -0.776 -3.144 -0.939 -1.504a -0.686 -3.444

Ethiopia -0.607 -0.710 -0.793 -0.776 -2.403 -0.932 -3.966a -0.686 -2.541

Guinea-Bissau -0.607 -0.710 -0.793 -0.776 -2.362 -0.931 -1.090a -0.686 -2.493

Niger -0.607 -0.710 -0.793 -0.776 -2.329 -0.931 -1.217a -0.686 -2.455

Mozambique -0.603 -0.710 -0.792 -0.775 -1.955 -0.924 -1.587a -0.685 -2.027

Malawi -0.601 -0.710 -0.792 -0.775 -1.778 -0.919 -0.972a -0.685 -1.831

Rwanda -0.600 -0.710 -0.791 -0.775 -1.727 -0.917 -2.255a -0.685 -1.775

Chad -0.597 -0.710 -0.791 -0.775 -1.601 -0.912 -9.575 -0.685 -1.637

Angola -0.597 -0.710 -0.791 -0.775 -1.585 -0.912 -8.140 -0.685 -1.619

Gambia, The -0.596 -0.710 -0.791 -0.775 -1.565 -0.911 -6.881 -0.685 -1.598

Central African 

Republic

-0.596 -0.710 -0.791 -0.775 -1.555 -0.910 -6.388 -0.685 -1.588

Mali -0.596 -0.710 -0.791 -0.775 -1.554 -0.910 -6.319 -0.685 -1.586

Tanzania -0.596 -0.710 -0.791 -0.775 -1.534 -0.909 -5.519 -0.684 -1.565

Sierra Leone -0.594 -0.710 -0.790 -0.775 -1.490 -0.907 -4.282 -0.684 -1.517

Guinea -0.594 -0.710 -0.790 -0.775 -1.483 -0.907 -4.125 -0.684 -1.510

Burkina Faso -0.593 -0.710 -0.790 -0.775 -1.457 -0.905 -3.658 -0.684 -1.482

Zambia -0.591 -0.710 -0.790 -0.774 -1.406 -0.902 -2.972 -0.684 -1.428

Madagascar -0.591 -0.710 -0.790 -0.774 -1.404 -0.902 -2.943 -0.684 -1.425

Uganda -0.591 -0.710 -0.790 -0.774 -1.400 -0.902 -2.905 -0.684 -1.421

Togo -0.590 -0.710 -0.790 -0.774 -1.384 -0.901 -2.739 -0.684 -1.404

Congo, Rep. -0.589 -0.710 -0.790 -0.774 -1.372 -0.900 -2.633 -0.684 -1.391

Nepal -0.587 -0.710 -0.789 -0.774 -1.335 -0.897 -2.339 -0.683 -1.352

Ghana -0.586 -0.710 -0.789 -0.774 -1.317 -0.896 -2.217 -0.683 -1.333

Mauritania -0.584 -0.710 -0.789 -0.774 -1.292 -0.894 -2.064 -0.683 -1.306

Bangladesh -0.584 -0.710 -0.789 -0.774 -1.288 -0.894 -2.044 -0.683 -1.303

Côte d'Ivoire -0.583 -0.710 -0.789 -0.774 -1.276 -0.893 -1.978 -0.683 -1.290

Benin -0.583 -0.710 -0.789 -0.774 -1.273 -0.892 -1.960 -0.683 -1.286

Lao PDR -0.583 -0.710 -0.789 -0.774 -1.272 -0.892 -1.955 -0.683 -1.285

Djibouti -0.580 -0.710 -0.788 -0.774 -1.241 -0.889 -1.807 -0.683 -1.253

Nigeria -0.580 -0.710 -0.788 -0.774 -1.239 -0.889 -1.798 -0.683 -1.251

Senegal -0.580 -0.710 -0.788 -0.773 -1.232 -0.889 -1.770 -0.683 -1.244

Kenya -0.579 -0.710 -0.788 -0.773 -1.231 -0.888 -1.764 -0.683 -1.243

Cambodia -0.577 -0.710 -0.788 -0.773 -1.210 -0.886 -1.678 -0.682 -1.221

São Tomé and 

Principe

-0.576 -0.710 -0.788 -0.773 -1.194 -0.885 -1.618 -0.682 -1.204

---Continued 
27

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 2

Frisch own-price elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Food, 

beverages 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical & 

health

Transport &

communications Recreation Education Other

Cameroon -0.575 -0.710 -0.788 -0.773 -1.189 -0.884 -1.598 -0.682 -1.199

India -0.574 -0.710 -0.788 -0.773 -1.179 -0.883 -1.565 -0.682 -1.189

Yemen, Rep. -0.573 -0.710 -0.787 -0.773 -1.176 -0.883 -1.553 -0.682 -1.185

Mongolia -0.573 -0.710 -0.787 -0.773 -1.175 -0.883 -1.551 -0.682 -1.184

Vietnam -0.573 -0.709 -0.787 -0.773 -1.172 -0.882 -1.539 -0.682 -1.181

Iraq -0.571 -0.709 -0.787 -0.773 -1.162 -0.881 -1.505 -0.682 -1.170

Bhutan -0.570 -0.709 -0.787 -0.773 -1.153 -0.880 -1.479 -0.682 -1.162

China -0.569 -0.709 -0.787 -0.773 -1.146 -0.879 -1.455 -0.681 -1.154

Sudan -0.566 -0.709 -0.787 -0.773 -1.128 -0.877 -1.403 -0.681 -1.135

Lesotho -0.564 -0.709 -0.787 -0.773 -1.119 -0.876 -1.376 -0.681 -1.126

Tajikistan -0.564 -0.709 -0.786 -0.773 -1.118 -0.875 -1.374 -0.681 -1.125

Maldives -0.560 -0.709 -0.786 -0.772 -1.098 -0.873 -1.320 -0.681 -1.104

Pakistan -0.559 -0.709 -0.786 -0.772 -1.095 -0.872 -1.312 -0.680 -1.101

Morocco -0.558 -0.709 -0.786 -0.772 -1.089 -0.871 -1.298 -0.680 -1.095

Kyrgyz Republic -0.556 -0.709 -0.786 -0.772 -1.081 -0.870 -1.278 -0.680 -1.087

Philippines -0.556 -0.709 -0.786 -0.772 -1.081 -0.870 -1.277 -0.680 -1.086

Cape Verde -0.555 -0.709 -0.786 -0.772 -1.078 -0.870 -1.271 -0.680 -1.084

Indonesia -0.555 -0.709 -0.786 -0.772 -1.078 -0.870 -1.270 -0.680 -1.083

Bolivia -0.554 -0.709 -0.786 -0.772 -1.077 -0.869 -1.267 -0.680 -1.082

Namibia -0.551 -0.709 -0.785 -0.772 -1.066 -0.868 -1.242 -0.680 -1.071

Sri Lanka -0.550 -0.709 -0.785 -0.772 -1.062 -0.867 -1.232 -0.680 -1.067

Botswana -0.549 -0.709 -0.785 -0.772 -1.059 -0.867 -1.225 -0.680 -1.064

Azerbaijan -0.548 -0.709 -0.785 -0.772 -1.055 -0.866 -1.216 -0.679 -1.060

Gabon -0.547 -0.709 -0.785 -0.772 -1.053 -0.866 -1.213 -0.679 -1.058

Syrian Arab Republic -0.546 -0.709 -0.785 -0.772 -1.051 -0.865 -1.207 -0.679 -1.055

Equatorial Guinea -0.543 -0.709 -0.785 -0.772 -1.040 -0.863 -1.184 -0.679 -1.044

Paraguay -0.541 -0.709 -0.785 -0.772 -1.037 -0.863 -1.176 -0.679 -1.041

Fiji -0.539 -0.709 -0.784 -0.771 -1.032 -0.862 -1.167 -0.679 -1.037

Swaziland -0.537 -0.709 -0.784 -0.771 -1.028 -0.861 -1.157 -0.679 -1.032

Moldova -0.536 -0.709 -0.784 -0.771 -1.025 -0.861 -1.152 -0.679 -1.029

Egypt, Arab Rep. -0.535 -0.709 -0.784 -0.771 -1.023 -0.860 -1.147 -0.678 -1.027

Ecuador -0.532 -0.709 -0.784 -0.771 -1.017 -0.859 -1.135 -0.678 -1.021

Jordan -0.532 -0.709 -0.784 -0.771 -1.016 -0.859 -1.134 -0.678 -1.020

Georgia -0.531 -0.709 -0.784 -0.771 -1.015 -0.859 -1.131 -0.678 -1.019

Albania -0.530 -0.709 -0.784 -0.771 -1.013 -0.858 -1.127 -0.678 -1.017

Colombia -0.530 -0.709 -0.784 -0.771 -1.012 -0.858 -1.125 -0.678 -1.015

Armenia -0.528 -0.709 -0.784 -0.771 -1.009 -0.857 -1.120 -0.678 -1.013

Thailand -0.527 -0.709 -0.784 -0.771 -1.007 -0.857 -1.116 -0.678 -1.011

Peru -0.525 -0.709 -0.784 -0.771 -1.004 -0.856 -1.110 -0.678 -1.007

Tunisia -0.523 -0.709 -0.783 -0.771 -1.001 -0.856 -1.104 -0.678 -1.004

---Continued 
28

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 2

Frisch own-price elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Food, 

beverages 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical & 

health

Transport &

communications Recreation Education Other

Middle-income countries:

Ukraine -0.519 -0.709 -0.783 -0.771 -0.994 -0.854 -1.091 -0.677 -0.998

Montenegro -0.519 -0.709 -0.783 -0.771 -0.994 -0.854 -1.091 -0.677 -0.997

Malaysia -0.518 -0.709 -0.783 -0.771 -0.993 -0.854 -1.088 -0.677 -0.996

Venezuela, RB -0.516 -0.709 -0.783 -0.771 -0.990 -0.854 -1.084 -0.677 -0.994

Brazil -0.515 -0.709 -0.783 -0.771 -0.989 -0.853 -1.081 -0.677 -0.992

South Africa -0.512 -0.708 -0.783 -0.771 -0.985 -0.852 -1.074 -0.677 -0.988

Macedonia, FYR -0.508 -0.708 -0.783 -0.770 -0.979 -0.851 -1.063 -0.677 -0.982

Turkey -0.507 -0.708 -0.783 -0.770 -0.978 -0.851 -1.062 -0.676 -0.981

Serbia -0.503 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.973 -0.850 -1.053 -0.676 -0.976

Belarus -0.501 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.972 -0.849 -1.051 -0.676 -0.975

Bosnia and 

Herzegovina -0.501 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.972 -0.849 -1.051 -0.676 -0.975

Saudi Arabia -0.500 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.971 -0.849 -1.048 -0.676 -0.973

Romania -0.499 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.970 -0.849 -1.047 -0.676 -0.973

Mauritius -0.498 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.969 -0.849 -1.045 -0.676 -0.972

Chile -0.498 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.969 -0.849 -1.045 -0.676 -0.972

Uruguay -0.498 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.969 -0.849 -1.045 -0.676 -0.971

Kazakhstan -0.496 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.966 -0.848 -1.041 -0.676 -0.969

Russian Federation -0.493 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.964 -0.847 -1.036 -0.676 -0.966

Argentina -0.491 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.962 -0.847 -1.034 -0.676 -0.965

Oman -0.490 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.961 -0.847 -1.031 -0.675 -0.963

Bulgaria -0.487 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.959 -0.846 -1.028 -0.675 -0.961

Iran, Islamic Rep. -0.482 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.954 -0.845 -1.020 -0.675 -0.957

Latvia -0.475 -0.708 -0.781 -0.770 -0.950 -0.844 -1.012 -0.675 -0.952

Mexico -0.474 -0.708 -0.781 -0.770 -0.949 -0.844 -1.011 -0.675 -0.951

Lebanon -0.471 -0.708 -0.781 -0.770 -0.947 -0.843 -1.007 -0.674 -0.949

Poland -0.461 -0.708 -0.781 -0.769 -0.940 -0.841 -0.997 -0.674 -0.942

Lithuania -0.460 -0.708 -0.781 -0.769 -0.940 -0.841 -0.996 -0.674 -0.942

Croatia -0.459 -0.708 -0.781 -0.769 -0.940 -0.841 -0.996 -0.674 -0.942

Estonia -0.459 -0.708 -0.781 -0.769 -0.940 -0.841 -0.996 -0.674 -0.942

Macao, China -0.455 -0.708 -0.781 -0.769 -0.937 -0.840 -0.992 -0.674 -0.939

Brunei Darussalam -0.450 -0.708 -0.781 -0.769 -0.935 -0.840 -0.988 -0.673 -0.937

Hungary -0.449 -0.708 -0.781 -0.769 -0.934 -0.840 -0.987 -0.673 -0.936

Slovak Republic -0.448 -0.708 -0.781 -0.769 -0.934 -0.840 -0.987 -0.673 -0.936

Bahrain -0.440 -0.708 -0.780 -0.769 -0.930 -0.838 -0.980 -0.673 -0.932

Korea, Rep. -0.440 -0.708 -0.780 -0.769 -0.930 -0.838 -0.980 -0.673 -0.932

Czech Republic -0.428 -0.708 -0.780 -0.769 -0.925 -0.837 -0.972 -0.672 -0.927

Israel -0.422 -0.708 -0.780 -0.769 -0.923 -0.836 -0.969 -0.672 -0.924

Slovenia -0.420 -0.708 -0.780 -0.769 -0.922 -0.836 -0.968 -0.672 -0.923

---Continued 
29

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 2

Frisch own-price elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Food, 

beverages 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical & 

health

Transport &

communications Recreation Education Other

High-income countries:

Qatar -0.414 -0.708 -0.780 -0.769 -0.920 -0.835 -0.964 -0.672 -0.921

Portugal -0.411 -0.708 -0.780 -0.769 -0.919 -0.835 -0.963 -0.672 -0.921

Kuwait -0.410 -0.708 -0.780 -0.769 -0.918 -0.835 -0.962 -0.672 -0.920

Singapore -0.403 -0.707 -0.780 -0.769 -0.916 -0.834 -0.959 -0.672 -0.918

Malta -0.401 -0.707 -0.779 -0.769 -0.916 -0.834 -0.958 -0.672 -0.917

Finland -0.388 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.912 -0.833 -0.953 -0.671 -0.914

New Zealand -0.385 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.911 -0.833 -0.952 -0.671 -0.913

Taiwan, China -0.384 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.911 -0.833 -0.951 -0.671 -0.912

Denmark -0.379 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.910 -0.832 -0.949 -0.671 -0.911

Sweden -0.376 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.909 -0.832 -0.948 -0.671 -0.910

Italy -0.373 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.908 -0.832 -0.947 -0.671 -0.910

Belgium -0.372 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.908 -0.832 -0.947 -0.671 -0.909

Spain -0.369 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.907 -0.832 -0.946 -0.670 -0.909

Hong Kong, China -0.367 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.907 -0.831 -0.945 -0.670 -0.908

Ireland -0.363 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.906 -0.831 -0.944 -0.670 -0.907

Japan -0.362 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.906 -0.831 -0.943 -0.670 -0.907

Australia -0.361 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.906 -0.831 -0.943 -0.670 -0.907

France -0.361 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.906 -0.831 -0.943 -0.670 -0.907

Cyprus -0.357 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.905 -0.831 -0.942 -0.670 -0.906

Germany -0.350 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.903 -0.830 -0.940 -0.670 -0.905

Netherlands -0.350 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.903 -0.830 -0.940 -0.670 -0.905

Norway -0.348 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.903 -0.830 -0.939 -0.670 -0.904

Canada -0.347 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.903 -0.830 -0.939 -0.670 -0.904

Iceland -0.347 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.903 -0.830 -0.939 -0.670 -0.904

Switzerland -0.339 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.901 -0.830 -0.937 -0.670 -0.903

United Kingdom -0.337 -0.707 -0.778 -0.768 -0.901 -0.830 -0.936 -0.670 -0.902

Austria -0.330 -0.707 -0.778 -0.768 -0.900 -0.829 -0.934 -0.669 -0.901

Luxembourg -0.283 -0.707 -0.778 -0.768 -0.893 -0.827 -0.924 -0.668 -0.894

United States -0.254 -0.707 -0.778 -0.768 -0.890 -0.826 -0.920 -0.668 -0.891

Low-income average -0.572 -0.710 -0.788 -0.773 -1.362 -0.889 -2.141 -0.682 -1.416

Middle-income average -0.482 -0.708 -0.782 -0.770 -0.959 -0.846 -1.030 -0.675 -0.962

High-income average -0.363 -0.707 -0.779 -0.768 -0.907 -0.831 -0.945 -0.670 -0.908

Countries are reported based on ascending per capita real income levels.

aAs the estimated budget shares for medical and health, recreation, and “other” were negative, these values are calculated using the actual 

budget shares. Calculated using equation (6).

Source: Authors’ calculation using 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.
30

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 3

Slutsky own-price elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport & 

communications Recreation Education Other

Low-income countries:

Congo, Dem. Rep. -0.230 -0.669 -0.690 -0.741 -1.089a -0.933 -2.743a -0.664 -1.496a

Burundi -0.268 -0.669 -0.682 -0.738 -1.089a -0.869 -1.294a -0.663 -1.110a

Liberia -0.275 -0.669 -0.680 -0.738 -6.178 -0.859 -1.772a -0.663 -7.980

Zimbabwe -0.285 -0.669 -0.678 -0.737 -3.061 -0.846 -1.427a -0.663 -3.312

Ethiopia -0.293 -0.669 -0.676 -0.736 -2.332 -0.836 -3.839a -0.662 -2.433

Guinea-Bissau -0.293 -0.669 -0.676 -0.736 -2.292 -0.836 -1.003a -0.662 -2.386

Niger -0.294 -0.669 -0.676 -0.736 -2.259 -0.835 -1.137a -0.662 -2.349

Mozambique -0.301 -0.669 -0.674 -0.736 -1.891 -0.826 -1.510a -0.662 -1.931

Malawi -0.307 -0.669 -0.673 -0.735 -1.717 -0.819 -0.868a -0.662 -1.739

Rwanda -0.309 -0.669 -0.672 -0.735 -1.666 -0.817 -2.168a -0.662 -1.683

Chad -0.314 -0.669 -0.671 -0.735 -1.541 -0.811 -9.304 -0.662 -1.547

Angola -0.315 -0.670 -0.671 -0.734 -1.525 -0.810 -7.907 -0.662 -1.530

Gambia, The -0.316 -0.670 -0.671 -0.734 -1.505 -0.809 -6.680 -0.662 -1.509

Central African 

Republic

-0.317 -0.670 -0.671 -0.734 -1.496 -0.808 -6.199 -0.662 -1.498

Mali -0.317 -0.670 -0.670 -0.734 -1.494 -0.808 -6.132 -0.662 -1.497

Tanzania -0.318 -0.670 -0.670 -0.734 -1.475 -0.807 -5.353 -0.662 -1.476

Sierra Leone -0.321 -0.670 -0.670 -0.734 -1.431 -0.804 -4.147 -0.662 -1.428

Guinea -0.321 -0.670 -0.669 -0.734 -1.423 -0.803 -3.994 -0.662 -1.421

Burkina Faso -0.323 -0.670 -0.669 -0.734 -1.398 -0.801 -3.538 -0.662 -1.393

Zambia -0.326 -0.670 -0.668 -0.733 -1.347 -0.797 -2.869 -0.661 -1.339

Madagascar -0.327 -0.670 -0.668 -0.733 -1.344 -0.797 -2.841 -0.661 -1.336

Uganda -0.327 -0.670 -0.668 -0.733 -1.340 -0.797 -2.804 -0.661 -1.332

Togo -0.328 -0.670 -0.668 -0.733 -1.324 -0.795 -2.641 -0.661 -1.314

Congo, Rep. -0.329 -0.670 -0.667 -0.733 -1.312 -0.794 -2.538 -0.661 -1.302

Nepal -0.333 -0.670 -0.666 -0.733 -1.275 -0.790 -2.250 -0.661 -1.263

Ghana -0.334 -0.670 -0.666 -0.733 -1.257 -0.788 -2.130 -0.661 -1.243

Mauritania -0.337 -0.670 -0.665 -0.732 -1.231 -0.785 -1.980 -0.661 -1.216

Bangladesh -0.337 -0.670 -0.665 -0.732 -1.227 -0.785 -1.961 -0.661 -1.212

Côte d'Ivoire -0.339 -0.670 -0.665 -0.732 -1.215 -0.784 -1.896 -0.661 -1.199

Benin -0.339 -0.670 -0.665 -0.732 -1.212 -0.783 -1.878 -0.661 -1.196

Lao PDR -0.339 -0.670 -0.665 -0.732 -1.210 -0.783 -1.873 -0.661 -1.195

Djibouti -0.343 -0.670 -0.664 -0.732 -1.179 -0.779 -1.727 -0.661 -1.161

Nigeria -0.343 -0.670 -0.664 -0.732 -1.177 -0.779 -1.719 -0.661 -1.159

Senegal -0.344 -0.670 -0.663 -0.732 -1.171 -0.778 -1.691 -0.661 -1.152

Kenya -0.344 -0.670 -0.663 -0.732 -1.169 -0.778 -1.685 -0.661 -1.151

Cambodia -0.347 -0.670 -0.663 -0.732 -1.148 -0.774 -1.600 -0.661 -1.128

São Tomé and 

Principe -0.349 -0.670 -0.662 -0.731 -1.131 -0.772 -1.541 -0.661 -1.111

---continued
31

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 3

Slutsky own-price elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport & 

communications Recreation Education Other

Cameroon -0.350 -0.670 -0.662 -0.731 -1.126 -0.771 -1.521 -0.661 -1.105

India -0.351 -0.670 -0.661 -0.731 -1.116 -0.770 -1.488 -0.660 -1.095

Yemen, Rep. -0.352 -0.670 -0.661 -0.731 -1.112 -0.769 -1.476 -0.660 -1.091

Mongolia -0.352 -0.670 -0.661 -0.731 -1.112 -0.769 -1.474 -0.660 -1.090

Vietnam -0.353 -0.670 -0.661 -0.731 -1.108 -0.768 -1.462 -0.660 -1.086

Iraq -0.354 -0.670 -0.660 -0.731 -1.098 -0.766 -1.428 -0.660 -1.075

Bhutan -0.355 -0.670 -0.660 -0.731 -1.089 -0.765 -1.402 -0.660 -1.066

China -0.357 -0.670 -0.660 -0.731 -1.081 -0.763 -1.378 -0.660 -1.058

Sudan -0.360 -0.670 -0.659 -0.730 -1.063 -0.760 -1.326 -0.660 -1.038

Lesotho -0.361 -0.670 -0.658 -0.730 -1.053 -0.758 -1.299 -0.660 -1.028

Tajikistan -0.361 -0.670 -0.658 -0.730 -1.052 -0.758 -1.297 -0.660 -1.027

Maldives -0.365 -0.670 -0.657 -0.730 -1.031 -0.753 -1.242 -0.660 -1.004

Pakistan -0.366 -0.670 -0.657 -0.730 -1.027 -0.753 -1.234 -0.660 -1.001

Morocco -0.367 -0.670 -0.656 -0.729 -1.022 -0.751 -1.220 -0.660 -0.995

Kyrgyz Republic -0.368 -0.670 -0.656 -0.729 -1.013 -0.749 -1.199 -0.660 -0.985

Philippines -0.368 -0.670 -0.656 -0.729 -1.012 -0.749 -1.199 -0.660 -0.985

Cape Verde -0.369 -0.670 -0.656 -0.729 -1.010 -0.749 -1.193 -0.659 -0.982

Indonesia -0.369 -0.670 -0.656 -0.729 -1.009 -0.749 -1.191 -0.659 -0.982

Bolivia -0.369 -0.670 -0.655 -0.729 -1.008 -0.748 -1.188 -0.659 -0.980

Namibia -0.371 -0.670 -0.655 -0.729 -0.997 -0.746 -1.163 -0.659 -0.968

Sri Lanka -0.372 -0.670 -0.654 -0.729 -0.992 -0.744 -1.152 -0.659 -0.963

Botswana -0.373 -0.670 -0.654 -0.729 -0.989 -0.744 -1.145 -0.659 -0.960

Azerbaijan -0.373 -0.670 -0.654 -0.728 -0.984 -0.743 -1.136 -0.659 -0.955

Gabon -0.374 -0.670 -0.654 -0.728 -0.983 -0.742 -1.133 -0.659 -0.954

Syrian Arab Republic -0.374 -0.670 -0.653 -0.728 -0.980 -0.741 -1.126 -0.659 -0.951

Equatorial Guinea -0.376 -0.670 -0.653 -0.728 -0.968 -0.738 -1.102 -0.659 -0.938

Paraguay -0.377 -0.670 -0.652 -0.728 -0.965 -0.737 -1.094 -0.659 -0.934

Fiji -0.378 -0.670 -0.652 -0.728 -0.960 -0.736 -1.085 -0.659 -0.929

Swaziland -0.378 -0.670 -0.651 -0.728 -0.955 -0.734 -1.074 -0.659 -0.923

Moldova -0.379 -0.670 -0.651 -0.728 -0.952 -0.734 -1.070 -0.659 -0.921

Egypt, Arab Rep. -0.379 -0.671 -0.651 -0.727 -0.949 -0.733 -1.064 -0.659 -0.918

Ecuador -0.380 -0.671 -0.650 -0.727 -0.943 -0.731 -1.052 -0.658 -0.911

Jordan -0.380 -0.671 -0.650 -0.727 -0.942 -0.731 -1.050 -0.658 -0.910

Georgia -0.381 -0.671 -0.650 -0.727 -0.940 -0.730 -1.047 -0.658 -0.908

Albania -0.381 -0.671 -0.650 -0.727 -0.938 -0.730 -1.043 -0.658 -0.906

Colombia -0.381 -0.671 -0.650 -0.727 -0.937 -0.729 -1.040 -0.658 -0.904

Armenia -0.381 -0.671 -0.649 -0.727 -0.934 -0.728 -1.035 -0.658 -0.901

Thailand -0.382 -0.671 -0.649 -0.727 -0.932 -0.728 -1.031 -0.658 -0.899

Peru -0.382 -0.671 -0.649 -0.727 -0.928 -0.726 -1.024 -0.658 -0.895

Tunisia -0.383 -0.671 -0.648 -0.727 -0.925 -0.725 -1.018 -0.658 -0.892

---continued
32

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 3

Slutsky own-price elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport & 

communications Recreation Education Other

Middle-income countries:

Ukraine -0.383 -0.671 -0.648 -0.726 -0.917 -0.723 -1.004 -0.658 -0.883

Montenegro -0.383 -0.671 -0.648 -0.726 -0.917 -0.723 -1.004 -0.658 -0.883

Malaysia -0.384 -0.671 -0.647 -0.726 -0.915 -0.722 -1.001 -0.658 -0.881

Venezuela, RB -0.384 -0.671 -0.647 -0.726 -0.913 -0.721 -0.997 -0.658 -0.879

Brazil -0.384 -0.671 -0.647 -0.726 -0.911 -0.721 -0.994 -0.658 -0.877

South Africa -0.384 -0.671 -0.646 -0.726 -0.906 -0.719 -0.985 -0.658 -0.871

Macedonia, FYR -0.384 -0.671 -0.646 -0.726 -0.900 -0.717 -0.974 -0.657 -0.864

Turkey -0.384 -0.671 -0.646 -0.726 -0.899 -0.716 -0.972 -0.657 -0.863

Serbia -0.384 -0.671 -0.645 -0.725 -0.893 -0.714 -0.963 -0.657 -0.857

Belarus -0.384 -0.671 -0.645 -0.725 -0.892 -0.714 -0.960 -0.657 -0.855

Bosnia and 

Herzegovina

-0.384 -0.671 -0.645 -0.725 -0.891 -0.714 -0.960 -0.657 -0.855

Saudi Arabia -0.384 -0.671 -0.645 -0.725 -0.890 -0.713 -0.957 -0.657 -0.854

Romania -0.384 -0.671 -0.644 -0.725 -0.889 -0.713 -0.956 -0.657 -0.853

Mauritius -0.384 -0.671 -0.644 -0.725 -0.888 -0.712 -0.954 -0.657 -0.852

Chile -0.384 -0.671 -0.644 -0.725 -0.888 -0.712 -0.954 -0.657 -0.852

Uruguay -0.384 -0.671 -0.644 -0.725 -0.887 -0.712 -0.953 -0.657 -0.851

Kazakhstan -0.384 -0.671 -0.644 -0.725 -0.885 -0.711 -0.949 -0.657 -0.848

Russian Federation -0.384 -0.671 -0.643 -0.725 -0.882 -0.710 -0.943 -0.657 -0.844

Argentina -0.384 -0.671 -0.643 -0.725 -0.880 -0.709 -0.941 -0.657 -0.843

Oman -0.383 -0.671 -0.643 -0.725 -0.878 -0.709 -0.938 -0.657 -0.841

Bulgaria -0.383 -0.671 -0.643 -0.725 -0.876 -0.708 -0.934 -0.657 -0.838

Iran, Islamic Rep. -0.382 -0.671 -0.642 -0.724 -0.871 -0.706 -0.925 -0.656 -0.832

Latvia -0.381 -0.671 -0.641 -0.724 -0.865 -0.703 -0.916 -0.656 -0.826

Mexico -0.380 -0.671 -0.641 -0.724 -0.864 -0.703 -0.914 -0.656 -0.825

Lebanon -0.380 -0.671 -0.641 -0.724 -0.861 -0.702 -0.910 -0.656 -0.822

Poland -0.377 -0.671 -0.639 -0.724 -0.854 -0.698 -0.899 -0.656 -0.814

Lithuania -0.376 -0.671 -0.639 -0.724 -0.853 -0.698 -0.898 -0.656 -0.813

Croatia -0.376 -0.671 -0.639 -0.724 -0.853 -0.698 -0.897 -0.656 -0.813

Estonia -0.376 -0.671 -0.639 -0.724 -0.853 -0.698 -0.897 -0.656 -0.812

Macao, China -0.375 -0.671 -0.639 -0.723 -0.850 -0.697 -0.893 -0.656 -0.809

Brunei Darussalam -0.373 -0.671 -0.638 -0.723 -0.847 -0.695 -0.888 -0.655 -0.806

Hungary -0.372 -0.671 -0.638 -0.723 -0.846 -0.695 -0.887 -0.655 -0.805

Slovak Republic -0.372 -0.671 -0.638 -0.723 -0.845 -0.695 -0.886 -0.655 -0.804

Bahrain -0.369 -0.671 -0.637 -0.723 -0.840 -0.692 -0.879 -0.655 -0.799

Korea, Rep. -0.369 -0.671 -0.637 -0.723 -0.840 -0.692 -0.879 -0.655 -0.799

Czech Republic -0.363 -0.671 -0.636 -0.722 -0.834 -0.689 -0.869 -0.655 -0.792

Israel -0.360 -0.671 -0.636 -0.722 -0.831 -0.688 -0.865 -0.655 -0.789

Slovenia -0.359 -0.671 -0.636 -0.722 -0.830 -0.688 -0.863 -0.655 -0.787

---continued
33

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 3

Slutsky own-price elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport & 

communications Recreation Education Other

High-income countries:

Qatar -0.356 -0.671 -0.635 -0.722 -0.827 -0.686 -0.859 -0.654 -0.784

Portugal -0.355 -0.671 -0.635 -0.722 -0.826 -0.686 -0.858 -0.654 -0.783

Kuwait -0.354 -0.671 -0.635 -0.722 -0.826 -0.685 -0.857 -0.654 -0.782

Singapore -0.350 -0.671 -0.634 -0.722 -0.823 -0.684 -0.853 -0.654 -0.780

Malta -0.349 -0.671 -0.634 -0.722 -0.822 -0.684 -0.852 -0.654 -0.779

Finland -0.341 -0.671 -0.633 -0.721 -0.817 -0.681 -0.845 -0.654 -0.773

New Zealand -0.339 -0.671 -0.633 -0.721 -0.816 -0.681 -0.843 -0.654 -0.772

Taiwan, China -0.338 -0.671 -0.633 -0.721 -0.816 -0.680 -0.842 -0.654 -0.771

Denmark -0.335 -0.671 -0.633 -0.721 -0.814 -0.680 -0.840 -0.654 -0.769

Sweden -0.333 -0.671 -0.633 -0.721 -0.813 -0.679 -0.839 -0.654 -0.769

Italy -0.331 -0.671 -0.632 -0.721 -0.812 -0.679 -0.837 -0.654 -0.767

Belgium -0.331 -0.671 -0.632 -0.721 -0.812 -0.679 -0.837 -0.654 -0.767

Spain -0.329 -0.671 -0.632 -0.721 -0.811 -0.678 -0.835 -0.653 -0.766

Hong Kong, China -0.328 -0.671 -0.632 -0.721 -0.811 -0.678 -0.835 -0.653 -0.765

Ireland -0.325 -0.671 -0.632 -0.721 -0.809 -0.677 -0.833 -0.653 -0.764

Japan -0.324 -0.671 -0.632 -0.721 -0.809 -0.677 -0.833 -0.653 -0.764

Australia -0.324 -0.671 -0.632 -0.721 -0.809 -0.677 -0.832 -0.653 -0.763

France -0.323 -0.671 -0.632 -0.721 -0.809 -0.677 -0.832 -0.653 -0.763

Cyprus -0.321 -0.671 -0.631 -0.721 -0.808 -0.676 -0.831 -0.653 -0.762

Germany -0.316 -0.671 -0.631 -0.721 -0.806 -0.675 -0.828 -0.653 -0.760

Netherlands -0.315 -0.671 -0.631 -0.721 -0.806 -0.675 -0.828 -0.653 -0.760

Norway -0.314 -0.671 -0.631 -0.721 -0.805 -0.675 -0.827 -0.653 -0.759

Canada -0.313 -0.671 -0.631 -0.721 -0.805 -0.675 -0.827 -0.653 -0.759

Iceland -0.313 -0.671 -0.631 -0.721 -0.805 -0.675 -0.827 -0.653 -0.759

Switzerland -0.307 -0.671 -0.630 -0.720 -0.803 -0.674 -0.824 -0.653 -0.757

United Kingdom -0.306 -0.671 -0.630 -0.720 -0.802 -0.673 -0.823 -0.653 -0.756

Austria -0.301 -0.671 -0.630 -0.720 -0.801 -0.672 -0.821 -0.653 -0.754

Luxembourg -0.264 -0.672 -0.628 -0.720 -0.791 -0.667 -0.808 -0.652 -0.743

United States -0.239 -0.672 -0.627 -0.719 -0.786 -0.664 -0.801 -0.652 -0.738

Low-income average -0.345 -0.670 -0.662 -0.731 -1.290 -0.776 -2.033 -0.660 -1.310

Middle-income average -0.379 -0.671 -0.642 -0.725 -0.875 -0.707 -0.933 -0.656 -0.837

High-income average -0.323 -0.671 -0.632 -0.721 -0.810 -0.678 -0.835 -0.653 -0.765

Countries are reported based on ascending per capita real income levels.

aAs the estimated budget shares for medical and health, recreation, and “other” were negative, these values are calculated using the 

actual budget shares. Calculated using equation (7).

Source: Authors’ calculation using 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.
34

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 4

Cournot own-price elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport & 

communications Recreation Education Other

Low-income countries:

Congo, Dem. Rep. -0.863 -0.729 -0.826 -0.789 -1.145a -1.012 -2.778a -0.701 -1.552a

Burundi -0.832 -0.728 -0.824 -0.788 -1.145a -0.962 -1.350a -0.698 -1.187a

Liberia -0.826 -0.728 -0.824 -0.788 -6.201 -0.955 -1.815a -0.698 -8.013

Zimbabwe -0.818 -0.727 -0.823 -0.788 -3.087 -0.945 -1.478a -0.697 -3.350

Ethiopia -0.810 -0.727 -0.823 -0.787 -2.361 -0.939 -3.871a -0.697 -2.475

Guinea-Bissau -0.810 -0.727 -0.823 -0.787 -2.321 -0.938 -1.082a -0.697 -2.429

Niger -0.809 -0.727 -0.823 -0.787 -2.289 -0.938 -1.203a -0.697 -2.392

Mozambique -0.802 -0.727 -0.823 -0.787 -1.924 -0.932 -1.558a -0.696 -1.978

Malawi -0.796 -0.727 -0.823 -0.787 -1.752 -0.927 -0.975a -0.696 -1.789

Rwanda -0.794 -0.727 -0.823 -0.787 -1.701 -0.926 -2.206a -0.696 -1.735

Chad -0.788 -0.727 -0.823 -0.787 -1.578 -0.922 -9.332 -0.695 -1.602

Angola -0.787 -0.727 -0.823 -0.787 -1.563 -0.921 -7.936 -0.695 -1.585

Gambia, The -0.786 -0.727 -0.823 -0.787 -1.544 -0.921 -6.709 -0.695 -1.565

Central African 

Republic

-0.786 -0.727 -0.823 -0.787 -1.534 -0.920 -6.229 -0.695 -1.555

Mali -0.785 -0.727 -0.823 -0.787 -1.533 -0.920 -6.162 -0.695 -1.553

Tanzania -0.784 -0.727 -0.822 -0.787 -1.514 -0.919 -5.383 -0.695 -1.533

Sierra Leone -0.781 -0.727 -0.822 -0.786 -1.471 -0.918 -4.178 -0.695 -1.487

Guinea -0.781 -0.727 -0.822 -0.786 -1.463 -0.917 -4.026 -0.695 -1.480

Burkina Faso -0.779 -0.727 -0.822 -0.786 -1.439 -0.916 -3.571 -0.695 -1.453

Zambia -0.774 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.389 -0.914 -2.904 -0.694 -1.401

Madagascar -0.774 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.386 -0.913 -2.876 -0.694 -1.398

Uganda -0.773 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.383 -0.913 -2.839 -0.694 -1.395

Togo -0.772 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.367 -0.912 -2.677 -0.694 -1.378

Congo, Rep. -0.770 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.356 -0.912 -2.574 -0.694 -1.366

Nepal -0.766 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.320 -0.910 -2.288 -0.694 -1.329

Ghana -0.764 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.302 -0.908 -2.169 -0.694 -1.311

Mauritania -0.760 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.278 -0.907 -2.021 -0.693 -1.285

Bangladesh -0.760 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.275 -0.907 -2.002 -0.693 -1.282

Côte d'Ivoire -0.758 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.263 -0.906 -1.937 -0.693 -1.270

Benin -0.757 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.260 -0.905 -1.920 -0.693 -1.266

Lao PDR -0.757 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.259 -0.905 -1.915 -0.693 -1.265

Djibouti -0.752 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.229 -0.903 -1.771 -0.693 -1.234

Nigeria -0.752 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.227 -0.903 -1.763 -0.693 -1.232

Senegal -0.750 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.221 -0.903 -1.736 -0.693 -1.226

Kenya -0.750 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.219 -0.902 -1.730 -0.693 -1.225

Cambodia -0.746 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.199 -0.901 -1.647 -0.692 -1.204

São Tomé and 

Principe -0.742 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.184 -0.899 -1.588 -0.692 -1.188

--continued
35

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 4

Cournot own-price elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport & 

communications Recreation Education Other

Cameroon -0.741 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.179 -0.899 -1.569 -0.692 -1.183

India -0.739 -0.726 -0.822 -0.785 -1.170 -0.898 -1.537 -0.692 -1.174

Yemen, Rep. -0.738 -0.726 -0.822 -0.785 -1.166 -0.898 -1.525 -0.692 -1.170

Mongolia -0.738 -0.726 -0.822 -0.785 -1.166 -0.898 -1.523 -0.692 -1.170

Vietnam -0.737 -0.726 -0.822 -0.785 -1.162 -0.897 -1.512 -0.692 -1.166

Iraq -0.734 -0.726 -0.822 -0.785 -1.153 -0.897 -1.479 -0.692 -1.156

Bhutan -0.732 -0.726 -0.821 -0.785 -1.145 -0.896 -1.454 -0.691 -1.148

China -0.730 -0.726 -0.821 -0.785 -1.138 -0.895 -1.431 -0.691 -1.141

Sudan -0.724 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.121 -0.893 -1.381 -0.691 -1.124

Lesotho -0.721 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.112 -0.892 -1.355 -0.691 -1.115

Tajikistan -0.721 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.111 -0.892 -1.353 -0.691 -1.114

Maldives -0.713 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.092 -0.890 -1.301 -0.690 -1.095

Pakistan -0.712 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.089 -0.890 -1.293 -0.690 -1.092

Morocco -0.709 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.084 -0.889 -1.280 -0.690 -1.087

Kyrgyz Republic -0.705 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.076 -0.888 -1.261 -0.690 -1.079

Philippines -0.705 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.076 -0.888 -1.260 -0.690 -1.078

Cape Verde -0.704 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.073 -0.888 -1.254 -0.690 -1.076

Indonesia -0.704 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.073 -0.888 -1.253 -0.690 -1.076

Bolivia -0.703 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.072 -0.888 -1.250 -0.690 -1.074

Namibia -0.698 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.062 -0.886 -1.226 -0.689 -1.064

Sri Lanka -0.696 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.058 -0.886 -1.217 -0.689 -1.060

Botswana -0.694 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.055 -0.885 -1.210 -0.689 -1.058

Azerbaijan -0.692 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.051 -0.885 -1.202 -0.689 -1.054

Gabon -0.691 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.050 -0.885 -1.199 -0.689 -1.052

Syrian Arab Republic -0.690 -0.725 -0.821 -0.785 -1.047 -0.884 -1.193 -0.689 -1.050

Equatorial Guinea -0.683 -0.725 -0.821 -0.784 -1.037 -0.883 -1.171 -0.689 -1.040

Paraguay -0.681 -0.725 -0.821 -0.784 -1.034 -0.883 -1.164 -0.688 -1.037

Fiji -0.678 -0.725 -0.821 -0.784 -1.030 -0.882 -1.155 -0.688 -1.033

Swaziland -0.674 -0.725 -0.821 -0.784 -1.026 -0.881 -1.146 -0.688 -1.028

Moldova -0.673 -0.725 -0.821 -0.784 -1.024 -0.881 -1.142 -0.688 -1.026

Egypt, Arab Rep. -0.671 -0.725 -0.821 -0.784 -1.021 -0.881 -1.137 -0.688 -1.024

Ecuador -0.666 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -1.016 -0.880 -1.125 -0.688 -1.018

Jordan -0.665 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -1.015 -0.880 -1.124 -0.688 -1.018

Georgia -0.664 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -1.014 -0.880 -1.121 -0.688 -1.017

Albania -0.663 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -1.012 -0.879 -1.118 -0.687 -1.015

Colombia -0.661 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -1.011 -0.879 -1.115 -0.687 -1.014

Armenia -0.659 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -1.009 -0.879 -1.111 -0.687 -1.011

Thailand -0.658 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -1.007 -0.879 -1.107 -0.687 -1.010

Peru -0.655 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -1.004 -0.878 -1.101 -0.687 -1.007

Tunisia -0.652 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -1.001 -0.878 -1.096 -0.687 -1.004

--continued
36

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 4

Cournot own-price elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport & 

communications Recreation Education Other

Middle-income countries:

Ukraine -0.645 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.995 -0.877 -1.084 -0.687 -0.998

Montenegro -0.645 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.995 -0.877 -1.084 -0.687 -0.998

Malaysia -0.643 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.993 -0.877 -1.081 -0.686 -0.996

Venezuela, RB -0.641 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.991 -0.876 -1.077 -0.686 -0.994

Brazil -0.639 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.990 -0.876 -1.075 -0.686 -0.993

South Africa -0.634 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.986 -0.875 -1.068 -0.686 -0.989

Macedonia, FYR -0.627 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.981 -0.874 -1.058 -0.686 -0.984

Turkey -0.626 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.980 -0.874 -1.056 -0.686 -0.983

Serbia -0.619 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.976 -0.874 -1.049 -0.685 -0.979

Belarus -0.618 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.974 -0.873 -1.046 -0.685 -0.978

Bosnia and 

Herzegovina

-0.617 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.974 -0.873 -1.046 -0.685 -0.978

Saudi Arabia -0.616 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.973 -0.873 -1.044 -0.685 -0.977

Romania -0.615 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.973 -0.873 -1.043 -0.685 -0.976

Mauritius -0.613 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.972 -0.873 -1.041 -0.685 -0.975

Chile -0.613 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.972 -0.873 -1.041 -0.685 -0.975

Uruguay -0.612 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.971 -0.873 -1.041 -0.685 -0.975

Kazakhstan -0.609 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.969 -0.873 -1.037 -0.685 -0.973

Russian Federation -0.605 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.967 -0.872 -1.033 -0.685 -0.970

Argentina -0.603 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.966 -0.872 -1.031 -0.685 -0.969

Oman -0.600 -0.724 -0.821 -0.784 -0.964 -0.872 -1.029 -0.684 -0.968

Bulgaria -0.597 -0.724 -0.821 -0.783 -0.962 -0.871 -1.025 -0.684 -0.966

Iran, Islamic Rep. -0.589 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.958 -0.871 -1.018 -0.684 -0.962

Latvia -0.580 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.954 -0.870 -1.011 -0.684 -0.958

Mexico -0.577 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.953 -0.870 -1.010 -0.683 -0.957

Lebanon -0.573 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.951 -0.869 -1.007 -0.683 -0.956

Poland -0.559 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.946 -0.868 -0.997 -0.683 -0.950

Lithuania -0.558 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.946 -0.868 -0.997 -0.683 -0.950

Croatia -0.557 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.945 -0.868 -0.996 -0.683 -0.950

Estonia -0.557 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.945 -0.868 -0.996 -0.683 -0.950

Macao, China -0.551 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.943 -0.868 -0.993 -0.682 -0.948

Brunei Darussalam -0.544 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.941 -0.867 -0.989 -0.682 -0.946

Hungary -0.543 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.940 -0.867 -0.988 -0.682 -0.945

Slovak Republic -0.542 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.940 -0.867 -0.988 -0.682 -0.945

Bahrain -0.531 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.937 -0.867 -0.982 -0.682 -0.941

Korea, Rep. -0.530 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.937 -0.867 -0.982 -0.682 -0.941

Czech Republic -0.514 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.932 -0.866 -0.975 -0.681 -0.937

Israel -0.506 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.930 -0.865 -0.972 -0.681 -0.935

Slovenia -0.503 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.930 -0.865 -0.971 -0.681 -0.935

--continued
37

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 4

Cournot own-price elasticities for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing & 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport & 

communications Recreation Education Other

High-income countries:

Qatar -0.496 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.928 -0.865 -0.968 -0.680 -0.933

Portugal -0.492 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.927 -0.865 -0.967 -0.680 -0.932

Kuwait -0.490 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.927 -0.865 -0.966 -0.680 -0.932

Singapore -0.482 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.925 -0.864 -0.964 -0.680 -0.930

Malta -0.480 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.924 -0.864 -0.963 -0.680 -0.930

Finland -0.463 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.921 -0.864 -0.958 -0.679 -0.927

New Zealand -0.459 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.921 -0.863 -0.957 -0.679 -0.926

Taiwan, China -0.457 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.920 -0.863 -0.957 -0.679 -0.926

Denmark -0.451 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.919 -0.863 -0.955 -0.679 -0.925

Sweden -0.447 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.919 -0.863 -0.954 -0.679 -0.924

Italy -0.443 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.918 -0.863 -0.953 -0.679 -0.924

Belgium -0.442 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.918 -0.863 -0.953 -0.679 -0.924

Spain -0.438 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.917 -0.863 -0.952 -0.679 -0.923

Hong Kong, China -0.436 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.917 -0.863 -0.952 -0.679 -0.923

Ireland -0.431 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.916 -0.863 -0.950 -0.679 -0.922

Japan -0.430 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.916 -0.862 -0.950 -0.679 -0.922

Australia -0.428 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.916 -0.862 -0.950 -0.679 -0.922

France -0.428 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.916 -0.862 -0.950 -0.679 -0.922

Cyprus -0.423 -0.722 -0.821 -0.782 -0.915 -0.862 -0.949 -0.678 -0.921

Germany -0.414 -0.722 -0.821 -0.782 -0.914 -0.862 -0.947 -0.678 -0.920

Netherlands -0.414 -0.722 -0.821 -0.782 -0.914 -0.862 -0.947 -0.678 -0.920

Norway -0.411 -0.722 -0.821 -0.782 -0.913 -0.862 -0.946 -0.678 -0.920

Canada -0.411 -0.722 -0.821 -0.782 -0.913 -0.862 -0.946 -0.678 -0.920

Iceland -0.410 -0.722 -0.821 -0.782 -0.913 -0.862 -0.946 -0.678 -0.919

Switzerland -0.400 -0.722 -0.821 -0.782 -0.912 -0.862 -0.944 -0.678 -0.918

United Kingdom -0.398 -0.722 -0.821 -0.782 -0.912 -0.862 -0.944 -0.678 -0.918

Austria -0.389 -0.722 -0.821 -0.782 -0.911 -0.861 -0.942 -0.678 -0.917

Luxembourg -0.332 -0.722 -0.821 -0.782 -0.905 -0.860 -0.934 -0.676 -0.912

United States -0.297 -0.721 -0.821 -0.782 -0.902 -0.860 -0.930 -0.676 -0.909

Low-income average -0.737 -0.726 -0.822 -0.786 -1.344 -0.903 -2.086 -0.692 -1.389

Middle-income average -0.588 -0.723 -0.821 -0.783 -0.962 -0.871 -1.025 -0.684 -0.966

High-income average -0.431 -0.722 -0.821 -0.783 -0.917 -0.863 -0.952 -0.679 -0.923

Countries are reported based on ascending per capita real income levels.

a As the estimated budget shares for medical and health, recreation, and other were negative, these values are calculated using the actual budget 

shares. Calculated using equation (8).

Source: Authors’ calculation using 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.
38

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 5

Unconditional expenditure elasticities of demand for food subcategories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Per capita 

food Cereals Meats Fish Dairy Oils & fats

Fruits & 

vegetables

Food 

other

Beverages 

& tobacco

Low-income countries:

Congo, Dem. Rep. 0.014 0.685 0.846 0.751 0.877 0.691 0.728 1.373a 4.545

Burundi 0.020 0.661 0.832 0.733 0.861 0.668 0.709 1.413a 2.351

Liberia 0.013 0.673 0.828 0.736 0.858 0.679 0.715 2.100a 7.094

Zimbabwe 0.031 0.637 0.824 0.720 0.853 0.645 0.693 3.417 1.661

Ethiopia 0.040 0.622 0.820 0.713 0.848 0.631 0.684 2.275 1.488

Guinea-Bissau 0.040 0.621 0.819 0.712 0.848 0.630 0.683 2.261 1.485

Niger 0.037 0.626 0.819 0.714 0.848 0.635 0.686 2.546 1.539

Mozambique 0.055 0.600 0.815 0.703 0.843 0.611 0.671 1.745 1.346

Malawi 0.017 0.651 0.812 0.718 0.840 0.657 0.695 0.982a 2.846

Rwanda 0.060 0.591 0.810 0.698 0.839 0.603 0.665 1.649 1.309

Chad 0.050 0.600 0.806 0.698 0.834 0.610 0.667 1.842 1.367

Angola 0.051 0.599 0.807 0.698 0.835 0.610 0.667 1.817 1.360

Gambia, The 0.027 0.629 0.806 0.706 0.834 0.637 0.681 5.252 1.755

Central African 

Republic 0.068 0.580 0.805 0.691 0.833 0.592 0.657 1.549 1.268

Mali 0.060 0.588 0.805 0.694 0.833 0.599 0.661 1.644 1.303

Tanzania 0.085 0.563 0.804 0.687 0.832 0.577 0.650 1.424 1.216

Sierra Leone 0.044 0.603 0.802 0.696 0.831 0.613 0.667 2.011 1.408

Guinea 0.045 0.603 0.802 0.696 0.830 0.613 0.667 2.001 1.405

Burkina Faso 0.072 0.573 0.801 0.687 0.829 0.585 0.652 1.502 1.246

Zambia 0.018 0.638 0.798 0.705 0.826 0.645 0.683 1.672a 2.604

Madagascar 0.069 0.574 0.798 0.685 0.826 0.586 0.651 1.525 1.253

Uganda 0.062 0.581 0.798 0.687 0.826 0.592 0.654 1.605 1.283

Togo 0.075 0.567 0.796 0.682 0.823 0.580 0.647 1.476 1.232

Congo, Rep. 0.070 0.572 0.797 0.684 0.824 0.584 0.650 1.516 1.248

Nepal 0.094 0.548 0.793 0.675 0.820 0.563 0.638 1.362 1.181

Ghana 0.061 0.577 0.792 0.682 0.819 0.588 0.649 1.599 1.275

Mauritania 0.105 0.536 0.789 0.669 0.816 0.551 0.631 1.314 1.155

Bangladesh 0.110 0.531 0.788 0.667 0.815 0.547 0.628 1.298 1.147

Côte d'Ivoire 0.095 0.543 0.787 0.670 0.814 0.558 0.633 1.349 1.171

Benin 0.077 0.560 0.789 0.676 0.817 0.573 0.641 1.448 1.215

Lao PDR 0.104 0.535 0.787 0.668 0.814 0.551 0.629 1.315 1.154

Djibouti 0.123 0.518 0.783 0.661 0.810 0.535 0.620 1.257 1.123

Nigeria 0.092 0.542 0.783 0.667 0.810 0.557 0.630 1.352 1.169

Senegal 0.109 0.529 0.782 0.663 0.809 0.544 0.624 1.293 1.141

Kenya 0.074 0.559 0.784 0.672 0.811 0.571 0.638 1.457 1.215

Cambodia 0.120 0.517 0.780 0.659 0.806 0.534 0.618 1.257 1.121

São Tomé and 

Principe 0.137 0.502 0.776 0.653 0.803 0.521 0.611 1.218 1.099

Cameroon 0.123 0.514 0.777 0.656 0.804 0.531 0.616 1.247 1.115

--continued
39

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 5

Unconditional expenditure elasticities of demand for food subcategories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Per capita 

food Cereals Meats Fish Dairy Oils & fats

Fruits & 

vegetables

Food 

other

Beverages 

& tobacco

India 0.094 0.535 0.775 0.660 0.801 0.550 0.623 1.332 1.154

Yemen, Rep. 0.119 0.515 0.774 0.654 0.801 0.532 0.614 1.252 1.115

Mongolia 0.120 0.513 0.773 0.653 0.800 0.530 0.613 1.247 1.112

Vietnam 0.091 0.537 0.774 0.659 0.801 0.551 0.623 1.343 1.159

Iraq 0.111 0.519 0.771 0.653 0.798 0.535 0.615 1.268 1.121

Bhutan 0.127 0.506 0.770 0.649 0.796 0.523 0.609 1.227 1.100

China 0.094 0.531 0.768 0.654 0.795 0.545 0.618 1.319 1.144

Sudan 0.154 0.483 0.764 0.640 0.790 0.502 0.597 1.173 1.068

Lesotho 0.092 0.528 0.762 0.649 0.788 0.542 0.613 1.317 1.138

Tajikistan 0.103 0.518 0.762 0.646 0.788 0.533 0.609 1.274 1.118

Maldives 0.116 0.505 0.756 0.639 0.782 0.521 0.601 1.229 1.092

Pakistan 0.150 0.478 0.753 0.632 0.779 0.498 0.589 1.162 1.056

Morocco 0.165 0.469 0.755 0.631 0.781 0.490 0.587 1.145 1.047

Kyrgyz Republic 0.149 0.477 0.750 0.629 0.776 0.496 0.587 1.159 1.052

Philippines 0.219 0.430 0.749 0.620 0.775 0.456 0.570 1.089 1.013

Cape Verde 0.167 0.464 0.749 0.626 0.775 0.485 0.582 1.134 1.038

Indonesia 0.213 0.435 0.750 0.621 0.776 0.460 0.572 1.095 1.016

Bolivia 0.163 0.467 0.749 0.626 0.774 0.487 0.583 1.139 1.041

Namibia 0.148 0.475 0.745 0.625 0.770 0.494 0.583 1.152 1.046

Sri Lanka 0.182 0.451 0.743 0.619 0.768 0.473 0.574 1.110 1.021

Botswana 0.137 0.480 0.742 0.624 0.767 0.498 0.584 1.164 1.050

Azerbaijan 0.272 0.391 0.739 0.606 0.764 0.422 0.552 1.046 0.982

Gabon 0.188 0.445 0.740 0.615 0.765 0.467 0.570 1.099 1.013

Syrian Arab Republic 0.257 0.400 0.738 0.606 0.763 0.429 0.554 1.052 0.984

Equatorial Guinea 0.204 0.430 0.733 0.608 0.758 0.454 0.561 1.076 0.996

Paraguay 0.267 0.390 0.731 0.599 0.756 0.419 0.547 1.036 0.972

Fiji 0.228 0.413 0.728 0.601 0.753 0.438 0.553 1.053 0.981

Swaziland 0.213 0.421 0.726 0.601 0.750 0.445 0.554 1.059 0.983

Moldova 0.153 0.458 0.724 0.607 0.749 0.477 0.566 1.113 1.013

Egypt, Arab Rep. 0.279 0.378 0.723 0.592 0.747 0.409 0.539 1.020 0.958

Ecuador 0.240 0.400 0.719 0.592 0.743 0.426 0.543 1.033 0.964

Jordan 0.294 0.367 0.718 0.587 0.743 0.399 0.533 1.008 0.948

Georgia 0.216 0.414 0.717 0.594 0.742 0.438 0.547 1.045 0.971

Albania 0.242 0.396 0.713 0.588 0.738 0.422 0.539 1.024 0.956

Colombia 0.244 0.395 0.715 0.589 0.739 0.422 0.539 1.025 0.958

Armenia 0.374 0.314 0.707 0.571 0.731 0.353 0.512 0.968 0.918

Thailand 0.234 0.402 0.716 0.591 0.740 0.428 0.542 1.032 0.962

Peru 0.301 0.359 0.709 0.579 0.733 0.391 0.525 0.993 0.935

Tunisia 0.324 0.346 0.712 0.579 0.736 0.381 0.523 0.989 0.934

Middle-income countries:

Ukraine 0.312 0.347 0.699 0.570 0.723 0.380 0.516 0.975 0.920

--continued
40

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 5

Unconditional expenditure elasticities of demand for food subcategories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Per capita 

food Cereals Meats Fish Dairy Oils & fats

Fruits & 

vegetables

Food 

other

Beverages 

& tobacco

Montenegro 0.330 0.335 0.696 0.565 0.719 0.369 0.510 0.965 0.912

Malaysia 0.256 0.380 0.701 0.576 0.725 0.408 0.527 0.999 0.935

Venezuela, RB 0.342 0.330 0.701 0.568 0.725 0.366 0.512 0.968 0.916

Brazil 0.281 0.364 0.697 0.571 0.721 0.393 0.520 0.983 0.924

South Africa 0.278 0.363 0.692 0.566 0.715 0.392 0.516 0.976 0.917

Macedonia, FYR 0.388 0.297 0.685 0.552 0.709 0.336 0.494 0.935 0.888

Turkey 0.310 0.341 0.684 0.558 0.707 0.372 0.505 0.954 0.900

Serbia 0.349 0.315 0.677 0.549 0.700 0.350 0.494 0.933 0.883

Belarus 0.433 0.267 0.677 0.542 0.700 0.311 0.481 0.915 0.871

Bosnia and 

Herzegovina

0.431 0.268 0.679 0.544 0.702 0.313 0.483 0.917 0.874

Saudi Arabia 0.356 0.310 0.674 0.546 0.697 0.346 0.491 0.928 0.879

Romania 0.396 0.287 0.675 0.544 0.698 0.327 0.485 0.919 0.874

Mauritius 0.432 0.265 0.673 0.539 0.696 0.310 0.479 0.910 0.866

Chile 0.310 0.335 0.672 0.548 0.695 0.366 0.496 0.938 0.884

Uruguay 0.379 0.296 0.673 0.543 0.696 0.334 0.486 0.920 0.873

Kazakhstan 0.260 0.361 0.669 0.550 0.692 0.388 0.502 0.952 0.892

Russian Federation 0.446 0.254 0.665 0.532 0.688 0.300 0.472 0.897 0.855

Argentina 0.456 0.248 0.663 0.530 0.686 0.294 0.469 0.893 0.851

Oman 0.455 0.247 0.658 0.526 0.680 0.292 0.465 0.885 0.844

Bulgaria 0.411 0.273 0.661 0.531 0.683 0.314 0.473 0.898 0.854

Iran, Islamic Rep. 0.211 0.378 0.650 0.539 0.673 0.399 0.497 0.950 0.882

Latvia 0.500 0.215 0.642 0.510 0.663 0.265 0.448 0.857 0.819

Mexico 0.550 0.184 0.640 0.506 0.661 0.241 0.441 0.848 0.812

Lebanon 0.673 0.106 0.635 0.496 0.657 0.182 0.424 0.831 0.799

Poland 0.505 0.205 0.622 0.494 0.643 0.255 0.434 0.830 0.794

Lithuania 0.640 0.125 0.620 0.486 0.641 0.193 0.417 0.813 0.782

Croatia 0.483 0.217 0.621 0.495 0.642 0.264 0.436 0.832 0.794

Estonia 0.566 0.168 0.614 0.485 0.635 0.225 0.421 0.813 0.779

Macao, China 0.489 0.214 0.620 0.494 0.641 0.261 0.434 0.830 0.793

Brunei Darussalam 0.552 0.174 0.608 0.480 0.628 0.228 0.418 0.806 0.772

Hungary 0.514 0.194 0.605 0.480 0.626 0.244 0.421 0.807 0.772

Slovak Republic 0.520 0.192 0.606 0.481 0.626 0.242 0.421 0.807 0.772

Bahrain 0.666 0.104 0.594 0.464 0.614 0.173 0.397 0.777 0.747

Korea, Rep. 0.392 0.255 0.594 0.479 0.614 0.290 0.428 0.810 0.769

Czech Republic 0.607 0.135 0.577 0.454 0.597 0.194 0.392 0.760 0.730

Israel 0.577 0.149 0.566 0.447 0.586 0.202 0.387 0.748 0.718

Slovenia 0.634 0.118 0.569 0.446 0.589 0.180 0.384 0.747 0.718

High-income countries:

Qatar 0.613 0.127 0.555 0.436 0.574 0.184 0.376 0.731 0.701

Portugal 0.797 0.016 0.558 0.431 0.577 0.104 0.361 0.722 0.697

--continued
41

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 5

Unconditional expenditure elasticities of demand for food subcategories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Per capita 

food Cereals Meats Fish Dairy Oils & fats

Fruits & 

vegetables

Food 

other

Beverages 

& tobacco

Kuwait 0.762 0.038 0.542 0.420 0.560 0.116 0.353 0.703 0.678

Singapore 0.432 0.218 0.553 0.443 0.572 0.254 0.394 0.747 0.712

Malta 0.769 0.034 0.545 0.421 0.563 0.114 0.354 0.706 0.680

Finland 0.709 0.067 0.520 0.405 0.538 0.134 0.344 0.678 0.652

New Zealand 0.734 0.053 0.524 0.407 0.542 0.125 0.344 0.682 0.657

Taiwan, China 0.675 0.085 0.518 0.404 0.535 0.147 0.345 0.677 0.651

Denmark 0.659 0.091 0.502 0.393 0.519 0.149 0.336 0.658 0.632

Sweden 0.635 0.103 0.498 0.390 0.515 0.157 0.335 0.653 0.628

Italy 0.834 -0.009 0.508 0.391 0.525 0.078 0.325 0.655 0.633

Belgium 0.747 0.042 0.488 0.378 0.504 0.111 0.319 0.634 0.611

Spain 1.132 -0.246 0.511 0.384 0.529 -0.074 0.303 0.648 0.629

Hong Kong, China 0.639 0.100 0.496 0.389 0.513 0.154 0.334 0.651 0.625

Ireland 0.734 0.051 0.504 0.391 0.520 0.120 0.331 0.655 0.631

Japan 0.682 0.077 0.488 0.380 0.504 0.136 0.324 0.637 0.613

Australia 0.746 0.043 0.491 0.380 0.507 0.112 0.321 0.637 0.614

France 0.787 0.019 0.482 0.372 0.498 0.093 0.312 0.624 0.602

Cyprus 0.999 -0.121 0.489 0.371 0.506 0.000 0.300 0.624 0.605

Germany 0.757 0.035 0.473 0.366 0.489 0.103 0.309 0.613 0.591

Netherlands 0.750 0.039 0.469 0.363 0.484 0.105 0.306 0.608 0.586

Norway 0.711 0.059 0.468 0.364 0.484 0.120 0.309 0.610 0.587

Canada 0.670 0.080 0.472 0.369 0.488 0.136 0.315 0.618 0.594

Iceland 0.755 0.036 0.470 0.364 0.485 0.104 0.307 0.609 0.587

Switzerland 0.958 -0.085 0.455 0.346 0.470 0.018 0.282 0.582 0.563

United Kingdom 0.846 -0.015 0.458 0.351 0.473 0.066 0.292 0.589 0.569

Austria 0.891 -0.040 0.445 0.341 0.460 0.046 0.281 0.572 0.553

Luxembourg 1.239 -0.270 0.382 0.284 0.395 -0.106 0.221 0.482 0.468

United States 1.000 -0.085 0.343 0.260 0.354 -0.001 0.210 0.438 0.424

Low-income average 0.510 0.769 0.652 0.796 0.527 0.612 1.417 1.315

Middle-income average 0.245 0.644 0.516 0.666 0.290 0.457 0.873 0.831

High-income average 0.015 0.488 0.377 0.504 0.094 0.317 0.633 0.610

Countries are reported based on ascending per capita real income levels.

aAs the estimated budget shares for medical and health, recreation, and “other” were negative, these values are calculated using the actual budget shares. Calculated using equation (11).

Source: Authors’ calculation using 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.
42

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 6

Unconditional Frisch own-price elasticities of demand for food subcategories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Per capita 

food Cereals Meats Fish Dairy Oils & fats

Fruits & 

vegetables

Food 

other

Beverages 

& tobacco

Low-income countries:

Congo, Dem. Rep. 0.014 -0.502 -0.621 -0.551 -0.643 -0.507 -0.534 -1.007a -3.334

Burundi 0.020 -0.485 -0.610 -0.538 -0.632 -0.490 -0.520 -1.037a -1.725

Liberia 0.013 -0.494 -0.608 -0.540 -0.629 -0.498 -0.524 -1.540a -5.204

Zimbabwe 0.031 -0.467 -0.604 -0.528 -0.625 -0.473 -0.508 -2.507 -1.218

Ethiopia 0.040 -0.456 -0.601 -0.523 -0.622 -0.463 -0.502 -1.669 -1.092

Guinea-Bissau 0.040 -0.455 -0.601 -0.523 -0.622 -0.463 -0.501 -1.658 -1.089

Niger 0.037 -0.459 -0.601 -0.524 -0.622 -0.466 -0.503 -1.867 -1.129

Mozambique 0.055 -0.440 -0.598 -0.516 -0.619 -0.448 -0.493 -1.280 -0.987

Malawi 0.017 -0.478 -0.595 -0.527 -0.617 -0.482 -0.510 -0.720a -2.088

Rwanda 0.060 -0.434 -0.594 -0.512 -0.615 -0.442 -0.488 -1.209 -0.960

Chad 0.050 -0.440 -0.591 -0.512 -0.612 -0.448 -0.489 -1.351 -1.003

Angola 0.051 -0.439 -0.592 -0.512 -0.612 -0.447 -0.489 -1.333 -0.998

Gambia, The 0.027 -0.461 -0.591 -0.518 -0.612 -0.467 -0.500 -3.853 -1.287

Central African 

Republic 0.068 -0.425 -0.591 -0.507 -0.611 -0.434 -0.482 -1.136 -0.930

Mali 0.060 -0.431 -0.591 -0.509 -0.611 -0.440 -0.485 -1.206 -0.956

Tanzania 0.085 -0.413 -0.590 -0.504 -0.610 -0.424 -0.477 -1.044 -0.892

Sierra Leone 0.044 -0.443 -0.589 -0.511 -0.609 -0.450 -0.489 -1.475 -1.033

Guinea 0.045 -0.442 -0.588 -0.511 -0.609 -0.449 -0.489 -1.468 -1.031

Burkina Faso 0.072 -0.420 -0.587 -0.504 -0.608 -0.429 -0.478 -1.102 -0.914

Zambia 0.018 -0.468 -0.585 -0.517 -0.606 -0.473 -0.501 -1.227a -1.910

Madagascar 0.069 -0.421 -0.585 -0.502 -0.606 -0.430 -0.478 -1.119 -0.919

Uganda 0.062 -0.426 -0.585 -0.504 -0.606 -0.435 -0.480 -1.177 -0.941

Togo 0.075 -0.416 -0.584 -0.500 -0.604 -0.425 -0.475 -1.082 -0.904

Congo, Rep. 0.070 -0.420 -0.584 -0.501 -0.605 -0.429 -0.477 -1.112 -0.916

Nepal 0.094 -0.402 -0.582 -0.495 -0.602 -0.413 -0.468 -0.999 -0.866

Ghana 0.061 -0.423 -0.581 -0.500 -0.601 -0.431 -0.476 -1.173 -0.935

Mauritania 0.105 -0.393 -0.579 -0.491 -0.599 -0.405 -0.463 -0.964 -0.848

Bangladesh 0.110 -0.390 -0.578 -0.490 -0.598 -0.401 -0.461 -0.952 -0.841

Côte d'Ivoire 0.095 -0.398 -0.578 -0.491 -0.597 -0.409 -0.464 -0.989 -0.859

Benin 0.077 -0.411 -0.579 -0.496 -0.599 -0.421 -0.470 -1.062 -0.892

Lao PDR 0.104 -0.393 -0.577 -0.490 -0.597 -0.404 -0.462 -0.964 -0.847

Djibouti 0.123 -0.380 -0.575 -0.485 -0.594 -0.392 -0.455 -0.922 -0.824

Nigeria 0.092 -0.398 -0.574 -0.489 -0.594 -0.408 -0.462 -0.992 -0.857

Senegal 0.109 -0.388 -0.574 -0.486 -0.594 -0.399 -0.458 -0.949 -0.837

Kenya 0.074 -0.410 -0.575 -0.493 -0.595 -0.419 -0.468 -1.069 -0.891

Cambodia 0.120 -0.379 -0.572 -0.483 -0.592 -0.392 -0.454 -0.922 -0.823

São Tomé and 

Principe 0.137 -0.369 -0.569 -0.479 -0.589 -0.382 -0.448 -0.893 -0.806

--continued
43

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 6

Unconditional Frisch own-price elasticities of demand for food subcategories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Per capita 

food Cereals Meats Fish Dairy Oils & fats

Fruits & 

vegetables

Food 

other

Beverages 

& tobacco

Cameroon 0.123 -0.377 -0.570 -0.481 -0.590 -0.389 -0.452 -0.915 -0.818

India 0.094 -0.393 -0.568 -0.484 -0.588 -0.403 -0.457 -0.977 -0.846

Yemen, Rep. 0.119 -0.378 -0.568 -0.480 -0.587 -0.390 -0.451 -0.918 -0.818

Mongolia 0.120 -0.376 -0.567 -0.479 -0.587 -0.389 -0.450 -0.915 -0.816

Vietnam 0.091 -0.394 -0.568 -0.484 -0.587 -0.404 -0.457 -0.985 -0.850

Iraq 0.111 -0.381 -0.566 -0.479 -0.585 -0.393 -0.451 -0.930 -0.823

Bhutan 0.127 -0.371 -0.565 -0.476 -0.584 -0.384 -0.446 -0.900 -0.807

China 0.094 -0.389 -0.564 -0.480 -0.583 -0.400 -0.453 -0.968 -0.839

Sudan 0.154 -0.354 -0.561 -0.470 -0.580 -0.369 -0.438 -0.860 -0.783

Lesotho 0.092 -0.387 -0.559 -0.476 -0.578 -0.398 -0.450 -0.966 -0.835

Tajikistan 0.103 -0.380 -0.559 -0.474 -0.578 -0.391 -0.447 -0.934 -0.820

Maldives 0.116 -0.370 -0.554 -0.469 -0.574 -0.382 -0.441 -0.902 -0.801

Pakistan 0.150 -0.351 -0.552 -0.463 -0.571 -0.365 -0.432 -0.852 -0.774

Morocco 0.165 -0.344 -0.554 -0.463 -0.573 -0.359 -0.430 -0.840 -0.768

Kyrgyz Republic 0.149 -0.350 -0.550 -0.462 -0.569 -0.364 -0.431 -0.850 -0.772

Philippines 0.219 -0.316 -0.550 -0.455 -0.568 -0.334 -0.418 -0.799 -0.743

Cape Verde 0.167 -0.341 -0.550 -0.459 -0.568 -0.356 -0.427 -0.832 -0.762

Indonesia 0.213 -0.319 -0.550 -0.456 -0.569 -0.337 -0.420 -0.803 -0.746

Bolivia 0.163 -0.343 -0.549 -0.459 -0.568 -0.357 -0.427 -0.835 -0.763

Namibia 0.148 -0.348 -0.546 -0.458 -0.565 -0.362 -0.428 -0.845 -0.767

Sri Lanka 0.182 -0.331 -0.545 -0.454 -0.563 -0.347 -0.421 -0.814 -0.749

Botswana 0.137 -0.352 -0.544 -0.458 -0.563 -0.365 -0.428 -0.854 -0.770

Azerbaijan 0.272 -0.287 -0.542 -0.444 -0.561 -0.309 -0.405 -0.767 -0.720

Gabon 0.188 -0.326 -0.543 -0.451 -0.561 -0.342 -0.418 -0.806 -0.743

Syrian Arab Republic 0.257 -0.294 -0.541 -0.445 -0.560 -0.315 -0.407 -0.771 -0.722

Equatorial Guinea 0.204 -0.316 -0.537 -0.446 -0.556 -0.333 -0.411 -0.789 -0.731

Paraguay 0.267 -0.286 -0.536 -0.440 -0.554 -0.308 -0.401 -0.760 -0.713

Fiji 0.228 -0.303 -0.534 -0.441 -0.553 -0.322 -0.405 -0.773 -0.720

Swaziland 0.213 -0.309 -0.532 -0.441 -0.550 -0.326 -0.406 -0.777 -0.721

Moldova 0.153 -0.336 -0.531 -0.445 -0.549 -0.350 -0.415 -0.816 -0.743

Egypt, Arab Rep. 0.279 -0.278 -0.530 -0.434 -0.548 -0.300 -0.395 -0.748 -0.703

Ecuador 0.240 -0.293 -0.527 -0.434 -0.545 -0.313 -0.398 -0.758 -0.707

Jordan 0.294 -0.269 -0.527 -0.430 -0.545 -0.293 -0.391 -0.739 -0.696

Georgia 0.216 -0.304 -0.526 -0.435 -0.544 -0.321 -0.401 -0.766 -0.712

Albania 0.242 -0.291 -0.523 -0.431 -0.541 -0.310 -0.395 -0.751 -0.701

Colombia 0.244 -0.290 -0.525 -0.432 -0.542 -0.310 -0.396 -0.752 -0.703

Armenia 0.374 -0.230 -0.518 -0.419 -0.536 -0.259 -0.375 -0.710 -0.674

Thailand 0.234 -0.295 -0.525 -0.433 -0.543 -0.314 -0.398 -0.757 -0.706

Peru 0.301 -0.263 -0.520 -0.425 -0.538 -0.287 -0.385 -0.728 -0.686

Tunisia 0.324 -0.254 -0.522 -0.425 -0.540 -0.279 -0.384 -0.725 -0.685

--continued
44

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 6

Unconditional Frisch own-price elasticities of demand for food subcategories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Per capita 

food Cereals Meats Fish Dairy Oils & fats

Fruits & 

vegetables

Food 

other

Beverages 

& tobacco

Middle-income countries:

Ukraine 0.312 -0.255 -0.513 -0.418 -0.530 -0.279 -0.378 -0.715 -0.675

Montenegro 0.330 -0.246 -0.510 -0.415 -0.528 -0.271 -0.374 -0.708 -0.669

Malaysia 0.256 -0.279 -0.514 -0.422 -0.532 -0.299 -0.386 -0.733 -0.686

Venezuela, RB 0.342 -0.242 -0.514 -0.417 -0.532 -0.268 -0.376 -0.710 -0.672

Brazil 0.281 -0.267 -0.512 -0.419 -0.529 -0.289 -0.381 -0.721 -0.678

South Africa 0.278 -0.266 -0.507 -0.415 -0.525 -0.287 -0.378 -0.716 -0.673

Macedonia, FYR 0.388 -0.218 -0.503 -0.405 -0.520 -0.247 -0.362 -0.686 -0.652

Turkey 0.310 -0.250 -0.502 -0.409 -0.519 -0.273 -0.370 -0.700 -0.660

Serbia 0.349 -0.231 -0.497 -0.402 -0.513 -0.257 -0.362 -0.685 -0.648

Belarus 0.433 -0.196 -0.496 -0.398 -0.513 -0.228 -0.353 -0.671 -0.639

Bosnia and 

Herzegovina 0.431 -0.197 -0.498 -0.399 -0.515 -0.229 -0.354 -0.673 -0.641

Saudi Arabia 0.356 -0.227 -0.495 -0.401 -0.511 -0.254 -0.360 -0.681 -0.645

Romania 0.396 -0.211 -0.495 -0.399 -0.512 -0.240 -0.356 -0.674 -0.641

Mauritius 0.432 -0.195 -0.494 -0.396 -0.510 -0.227 -0.351 -0.667 -0.636

Chile 0.310 -0.245 -0.493 -0.402 -0.510 -0.268 -0.364 -0.688 -0.649

Uruguay 0.379 -0.217 -0.494 -0.398 -0.510 -0.245 -0.357 -0.675 -0.641

Kazakhstan 0.260 -0.265 -0.491 -0.403 -0.508 -0.284 -0.368 -0.699 -0.654

Russian Federation 0.446 -0.187 -0.488 -0.390 -0.504 -0.220 -0.346 -0.658 -0.627

Argentina 0.456 -0.182 -0.487 -0.389 -0.503 -0.216 -0.344 -0.655 -0.625

Oman 0.455 -0.181 -0.482 -0.386 -0.499 -0.214 -0.341 -0.649 -0.619

Bulgaria 0.411 -0.200 -0.485 -0.390 -0.501 -0.230 -0.347 -0.658 -0.626

Iran, Islamic Rep. 0.211 -0.277 -0.477 -0.395 -0.493 -0.293 -0.364 -0.697 -0.647

Latvia 0.500 -0.157 -0.471 -0.374 -0.487 -0.194 -0.329 -0.629 -0.601

Mexico 0.550 -0.135 -0.469 -0.371 -0.485 -0.177 -0.323 -0.622 -0.596

Lebanon 0.673 -0.078 -0.466 -0.364 -0.482 -0.133 -0.311 -0.609 -0.586

Poland 0.505 -0.151 -0.456 -0.363 -0.472 -0.187 -0.318 -0.609 -0.582

Lithuania 0.640 -0.091 -0.455 -0.356 -0.470 -0.141 -0.306 -0.597 -0.573

Croatia 0.483 -0.159 -0.455 -0.363 -0.471 -0.193 -0.320 -0.610 -0.583

Estonia 0.566 -0.123 -0.451 -0.356 -0.466 -0.165 -0.309 -0.596 -0.572

Macao, China 0.489 -0.157 -0.455 -0.362 -0.470 -0.191 -0.319 -0.609 -0.582

Brunei Darussalam 0.552 -0.128 -0.446 -0.352 -0.461 -0.167 -0.307 -0.591 -0.566

Hungary 0.514 -0.143 -0.444 -0.352 -0.459 -0.179 -0.309 -0.592 -0.566

Slovak Republic 0.520 -0.141 -0.444 -0.353 -0.459 -0.177 -0.309 -0.592 -0.566

Bahrain 0.666 -0.076 -0.436 -0.340 -0.450 -0.127 -0.291 -0.570 -0.548

Korea, Rep. 0.392 -0.187 -0.436 -0.351 -0.451 -0.213 -0.314 -0.594 -0.564

Czech Republic 0.607 -0.099 -0.424 -0.333 -0.438 -0.142 -0.287 -0.558 -0.535

Israel 0.577 -0.109 -0.416 -0.328 -0.430 -0.148 -0.284 -0.549 -0.527

Slovenia 0.634 -0.087 -0.418 -0.327 -0.432 -0.132 -0.281 -0.548 -0.527

--continued
45

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 6

Unconditional Frisch own-price elasticities of demand for food subcategories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Per capita 

food Cereals Meats Fish Dairy Oils & fats

Fruits & 

vegetables

Food 

other

Beverages 

& tobacco

High-income countries:

Qatar 0.613 -0.093 -0.407 -0.320 -0.421 -0.135 -0.276 -0.536 -0.515

Portugal 0.797 -0.012 -0.410 -0.316 -0.423 -0.076 -0.265 -0.530 -0.511

Kuwait 0.762 -0.028 -0.398 -0.308 -0.411 -0.085 -0.259 -0.516 -0.497

Singapore 0.432 -0.160 -0.406 -0.325 -0.419 -0.187 -0.289 -0.548 -0.522

Malta 0.769 -0.025 -0.399 -0.309 -0.413 -0.084 -0.260 -0.518 -0.499

Finland 0.709 -0.049 -0.382 -0.297 -0.394 -0.098 -0.252 -0.497 -0.479

New Zealand 0.734 -0.039 -0.385 -0.299 -0.398 -0.092 -0.253 -0.500 -0.482

Taiwan, China 0.675 -0.062 -0.380 -0.297 -0.393 -0.108 -0.253 -0.497 -0.478

Denmark 0.659 -0.067 -0.368 -0.288 -0.381 -0.109 -0.247 -0.482 -0.464

Sweden 0.635 -0.075 -0.365 -0.286 -0.378 -0.115 -0.246 -0.479 -0.461

Italy 0.834 0.007 -0.373 -0.287 -0.385 -0.057 -0.238 -0.481 -0.464

Belgium 0.747 -0.031 -0.358 -0.278 -0.370 -0.081 -0.234 -0.465 -0.448

Spain 1.132 0.180 -0.375 -0.281 -0.388 0.055 -0.223 -0.476 -0.461

Hong Kong, China 0.639 -0.073 -0.364 -0.285 -0.376 -0.113 -0.245 -0.477 -0.459

Ireland 0.734 -0.037 -0.369 -0.287 -0.382 -0.088 -0.243 -0.480 -0.463

Japan 0.682 -0.056 -0.358 -0.279 -0.370 -0.099 -0.238 -0.467 -0.449

Australia 0.746 -0.032 -0.360 -0.279 -0.372 -0.082 -0.236 -0.467 -0.450

France 0.787 -0.014 -0.354 -0.273 -0.366 -0.069 -0.229 -0.458 -0.442

Cyprus 0.999 0.089 -0.359 -0.272 -0.371 0.000 -0.220 -0.458 -0.443

Germany 0.757 -0.026 -0.347 -0.269 -0.359 -0.076 -0.226 -0.450 -0.434

Netherlands 0.750 -0.029 -0.344 -0.266 -0.355 -0.077 -0.225 -0.446 -0.430

Norway 0.711 -0.044 -0.344 -0.267 -0.355 -0.088 -0.227 -0.447 -0.431

Canada 0.670 -0.059 -0.347 -0.271 -0.358 -0.100 -0.231 -0.453 -0.436

Iceland 0.755 -0.027 -0.345 -0.267 -0.356 -0.076 -0.225 -0.447 -0.431

Switzerland 0.958 0.062 -0.334 -0.254 -0.345 -0.013 -0.207 -0.427 -0.413

United Kingdom 0.846 0.011 -0.336 -0.258 -0.347 -0.048 -0.214 -0.432 -0.418

Austria 0.891 0.030 -0.327 -0.250 -0.338 -0.034 -0.206 -0.420 -0.406

Luxembourg 1.239 0.198 -0.280 -0.208 -0.290 0.078 -0.162 -0.354 -0.343

United States 1.000 0.063 -0.252 -0.191 -0.260 0.000 -0.154 -0.321 -0.311

Low-income average -0.374 -0.564 -0.478 -0.584 -0.387 -0.449 -1.029 -0.964

Middle-income average -0.180 -0.472 -0.378 -0.488 -0.213 -0.336 -0.641 -0.609

High-income average -0.011 -0.358 -0.277 -0.370 -0.069 -0.232 -0.464 -0.447

Countries are reported based on ascending per capita real income levels.

aAs the estimated budget shares for medical and health, recreation, and “other” were negative, these values are calculated using the actual budget shares. Calculated using equation (12).

Source: Authors’ calculation using 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.
46

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 7 

Marginal shares for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Per capita 

income

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing 

& 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport 

& 

communications Recreation Education Other

Low-income countries:

Congo, Dem. Rep. 0.005 0.634 0.060 0.135 0.048 0.007 0.079 -0.010 0.037 0.010

Burundi 0.009 0.564 0.059 0.142 0.050 0.021 0.093 0.006 0.035 0.030

Liberia 0.010 0.551 0.059 0.144 0.050 0.023 0.096 0.010 0.035 0.033

Zimbabwe 0.012 0.532 0.058 0.146 0.051 0.027 0.099 0.014 0.035 0.038

Ethiopia 0.014 0.518 0.058 0.147 0.051 0.029 0.102 0.018 0.034 0.043

Guinea-Bissau 0.014 0.517 0.058 0.147 0.051 0.029 0.103 0.018 0.034 0.043

Niger 0.014 0.516 0.058 0.147 0.051 0.030 0.103 0.018 0.034 0.043

Mozambique 0.017 0.500 0.058 0.149 0.051 0.033 0.106 0.022 0.034 0.047

Malawi 0.018 0.489 0.057 0.150 0.052 0.035 0.108 0.025 0.034 0.051

Rwanda 0.019 0.486 0.057 0.150 0.052 0.035 0.109 0.025 0.034 0.052

Chad 0.021 0.474 0.057 0.151 0.052 0.038 0.111 0.028 0.033 0.055

Angola 0.021 0.472 0.057 0.152 0.052 0.038 0.112 0.029 0.033 0.055

Gambia, The 0.022 0.470 0.057 0.152 0.052 0.038 0.112 0.029 0.033 0.056

Central African 

Republic 0.022 0.469 0.057 0.152 0.052 0.038 0.112 0.030 0.033 0.056

Mali 0.022 0.469 0.057 0.152 0.052 0.039 0.112 0.030 0.033 0.056

Tanzania 0.023 0.466 0.057 0.152 0.052 0.039 0.113 0.030 0.033 0.057

Sierra Leone 0.024 0.461 0.057 0.153 0.052 0.040 0.114 0.032 0.033 0.059

Guinea 0.024 0.460 0.057 0.153 0.052 0.040 0.114 0.032 0.033 0.059

Burkina Faso 0.025 0.456 0.057 0.153 0.053 0.041 0.115 0.033 0.033 0.060

Zambia 0.027 0.447 0.057 0.154 0.053 0.042 0.117 0.035 0.033 0.062

Madagascar 0.027 0.447 0.057 0.154 0.053 0.043 0.117 0.035 0.033 0.062

Uganda 0.027 0.446 0.057 0.154 0.053 0.043 0.117 0.035 0.033 0.063

Togo 0.028 0.443 0.057 0.155 0.053 0.043 0.117 0.036 0.033 0.063

Congo, Rep. 0.029 0.441 0.057 0.155 0.053 0.044 0.118 0.036 0.033 0.064

Nepal 0.031 0.434 0.057 0.156 0.053 0.045 0.119 0.038 0.032 0.066

Ghana 0.032 0.429 0.056 0.156 0.053 0.046 0.120 0.039 0.032 0.067

Mauritania 0.034 0.423 0.056 0.157 0.053 0.047 0.121 0.041 0.032 0.069

Bangladesh 0.034 0.422 0.056 0.157 0.053 0.047 0.122 0.041 0.032 0.069

Côte d'Ivoire 0.035 0.419 0.056 0.157 0.054 0.048 0.122 0.042 0.032 0.070

Benin 0.035 0.418 0.056 0.157 0.054 0.048 0.122 0.042 0.032 0.071

Lao PDR 0.035 0.418 0.056 0.157 0.054 0.048 0.122 0.042 0.032 0.071

Djibouti 0.038 0.409 0.056 0.158 0.054 0.050 0.124 0.044 0.032 0.073

Nigeria 0.039 0.408 0.056 0.158 0.054 0.050 0.124 0.044 0.032 0.073

Senegal 0.039 0.406 0.056 0.158 0.054 0.050 0.125 0.045 0.032 0.074

Kenya 0.040 0.406 0.056 0.158 0.054 0.050 0.125 0.045 0.032 0.074

Cambodia 0.042 0.399 0.056 0.159 0.054 0.052 0.126 0.046 0.032 0.076

São Tomé and 

Principe 0.045 0.393 0.056 0.160 0.054 0.053 0.127 0.048 0.032 0.078

--continued
47

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 7 

Marginal shares for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Per capita 

income

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing 

& 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport 

& 

communications Recreation Education Other

Cameroon 0.045 0.391 0.056 0.160 0.054 0.053 0.128 0.048 0.032 0.078

India 0.047 0.388 0.056 0.160 0.054 0.054 0.129 0.049 0.031 0.079

Yemen, Rep. 0.048 0.386 0.056 0.160 0.054 0.054 0.129 0.050 0.031 0.080

Mongolia 0.048 0.386 0.056 0.160 0.054 0.054 0.129 0.050 0.031 0.080

Vietnam 0.048 0.384 0.056 0.161 0.054 0.054 0.129 0.050 0.031 0.080

Iraq 0.050 0.380 0.056 0.161 0.055 0.055 0.130 0.051 0.031 0.081

Bhutan 0.052 0.377 0.056 0.161 0.055 0.056 0.131 0.052 0.031 0.082

China 0.054 0.373 0.055 0.162 0.055 0.057 0.132 0.053 0.031 0.083

Sudan 0.058 0.364 0.055 0.163 0.055 0.058 0.133 0.055 0.031 0.086

Lesotho 0.061 0.360 0.055 0.163 0.055 0.059 0.134 0.056 0.031 0.087

Tajikistan 0.061 0.359 0.055 0.163 0.055 0.059 0.134 0.056 0.031 0.087

Maldives 0.068 0.348 0.055 0.164 0.055 0.061 0.137 0.059 0.031 0.090

Pakistan 0.069 0.346 0.055 0.164 0.055 0.062 0.137 0.059 0.031 0.091

Morocco 0.071 0.343 0.055 0.165 0.056 0.062 0.138 0.060 0.030 0.092

Kyrgyz Republic 0.075 0.337 0.055 0.165 0.056 0.063 0.139 0.061 0.030 0.093

Philippines 0.075 0.337 0.055 0.165 0.056 0.063 0.139 0.061 0.030 0.093

Cape Verde 0.076 0.335 0.055 0.166 0.056 0.064 0.139 0.062 0.030 0.094

Indonesia 0.076 0.335 0.055 0.166 0.056 0.064 0.139 0.062 0.030 0.094

Bolivia 0.077 0.334 0.055 0.166 0.056 0.064 0.139 0.062 0.030 0.094

Namibia 0.082 0.327 0.055 0.166 0.056 0.065 0.141 0.064 0.030 0.096

Sri Lanka 0.085 0.324 0.055 0.167 0.056 0.066 0.141 0.065 0.030 0.097

Botswana 0.086 0.322 0.055 0.167 0.056 0.066 0.142 0.065 0.030 0.098

Azerbaijan 0.089 0.319 0.055 0.167 0.056 0.067 0.142 0.066 0.030 0.098

Gabon 0.090 0.318 0.054 0.167 0.056 0.067 0.143 0.066 0.030 0.099

Syrian Arab 

Republic 0.092 0.315 0.054 0.168 0.056 0.067 0.143 0.067 0.030 0.099

Equatorial Guinea 0.099 0.307 0.054 0.168 0.056 0.069 0.145 0.069 0.030 0.102

Paraguay 0.102 0.304 0.054 0.169 0.057 0.070 0.145 0.069 0.030 0.103

Fiji 0.106 0.300 0.054 0.169 0.057 0.070 0.146 0.070 0.030 0.104

Swaziland 0.110 0.296 0.054 0.170 0.057 0.071 0.147 0.071 0.029 0.105

Moldova 0.112 0.294 0.054 0.170 0.057 0.071 0.148 0.072 0.029 0.105

Egypt, Arab Rep. 0.114 0.291 0.054 0.170 0.057 0.072 0.148 0.072 0.029 0.106

Ecuador 0.121 0.286 0.054 0.171 0.057 0.073 0.149 0.074 0.029 0.108

Jordan 0.121 0.285 0.054 0.171 0.057 0.073 0.149 0.074 0.029 0.108

Georgia 0.123 0.284 0.054 0.171 0.057 0.073 0.150 0.074 0.029 0.108

Albania 0.125 0.282 0.054 0.171 0.057 0.074 0.150 0.075 0.029 0.109

Colombia 0.127 0.280 0.054 0.171 0.057 0.074 0.150 0.075 0.029 0.109

Armenia 0.130 0.278 0.054 0.171 0.057 0.074 0.151 0.076 0.029 0.110

Thailand 0.132 0.276 0.054 0.172 0.057 0.075 0.151 0.076 0.029 0.110

Peru 0.136 0.272 0.054 0.172 0.057 0.075 0.152 0.077 0.029 0.111

Tunisia 0.141 0.269 0.054 0.172 0.057 0.076 0.152 0.078 0.029 0.112

--continued
48

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 7 

Marginal shares for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Per capita 

income

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing 

& 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport 

& 

communications Recreation Education Other

Middle-income countries:

Ukraine 0.151 0.261 0.054 0.173 0.058 0.078 0.154 0.080 0.029 0.114

Montenegro 0.151 0.261 0.053 0.173 0.058 0.078 0.154 0.080 0.029 0.115

Malaysia 0.154 0.259 0.053 0.173 0.058 0.078 0.154 0.080 0.029 0.115

Venezuela, RB 0.157 0.257 0.053 0.174 0.058 0.078 0.155 0.081 0.029 0.116

Brazil 0.160 0.255 0.053 0.174 0.058 0.079 0.155 0.081 0.029 0.116

South Africa 0.168 0.250 0.053 0.174 0.058 0.080 0.156 0.082 0.028 0.118

Macedonia, FYR 0.180 0.243 0.053 0.175 0.058 0.081 0.158 0.084 0.028 0.120

Turkey 0.182 0.241 0.053 0.175 0.058 0.081 0.158 0.085 0.028 0.120

Serbia 0.193 0.235 0.053 0.176 0.058 0.082 0.159 0.086 0.028 0.122

Belarus 0.196 0.233 0.053 0.176 0.058 0.083 0.160 0.086 0.028 0.122

Bosnia and 

Herzegovina 0.196 0.233 0.053 0.176 0.058 0.083 0.160 0.087 0.028 0.122

Saudi Arabia 0.200 0.231 0.053 0.176 0.058 0.083 0.160 0.087 0.028 0.123

Romania 0.201 0.230 0.053 0.176 0.058 0.083 0.160 0.087 0.028 0.123

Mauritius 0.204 0.229 0.053 0.176 0.058 0.084 0.161 0.088 0.028 0.124

Chile 0.204 0.229 0.053 0.176 0.058 0.084 0.161 0.088 0.028 0.124

Uruguay 0.205 0.228 0.053 0.176 0.058 0.084 0.161 0.088 0.028 0.124

Kazakhstan 0.212 0.225 0.053 0.177 0.059 0.084 0.161 0.088 0.028 0.125

Russian Federation 0.220 0.221 0.053 0.177 0.059 0.085 0.162 0.089 0.028 0.126

Argentina 0.224 0.219 0.053 0.177 0.059 0.086 0.163 0.090 0.028 0.126

Oman 0.228 0.217 0.053 0.178 0.059 0.086 0.163 0.090 0.028 0.127

Bulgaria 0.235 0.213 0.053 0.178 0.059 0.087 0.164 0.091 0.028 0.128

Iran, Islamic Rep. 0.251 0.207 0.053 0.179 0.059 0.088 0.165 0.093 0.027 0.130

Latvia 0.270 0.199 0.052 0.179 0.059 0.089 0.167 0.095 0.027 0.132

Mexico 0.274 0.197 0.052 0.180 0.059 0.090 0.167 0.095 0.027 0.133

Lebanon 0.284 0.193 0.052 0.180 0.059 0.090 0.168 0.096 0.027 0.134

Poland 0.314 0.182 0.052 0.181 0.060 0.092 0.170 0.099 0.027 0.137

Lithuania 0.316 0.182 0.052 0.181 0.060 0.093 0.170 0.099 0.027 0.137

Croatia 0.318 0.181 0.052 0.181 0.060 0.093 0.170 0.099 0.027 0.137

Estonia 0.319 0.181 0.052 0.181 0.060 0.093 0.170 0.099 0.027 0.137

Macao, China 0.332 0.176 0.052 0.182 0.060 0.094 0.171 0.100 0.027 0.138

Brunei Darussalam 0.347 0.172 0.052 0.182 0.060 0.094 0.172 0.101 0.027 0.140

Hungary 0.351 0.170 0.052 0.182 0.060 0.095 0.172 0.102 0.027 0.140

Slovak Republic 0.353 0.170 0.052 0.182 0.060 0.095 0.173 0.102 0.027 0.140

Bahrain 0.379 0.162 0.052 0.183 0.060 0.096 0.174 0.104 0.026 0.142

Korea, Rep. 0.380 0.162 0.052 0.183 0.060 0.096 0.174 0.104 0.026 0.142

Czech Republic 0.420 0.151 0.052 0.184 0.060 0.098 0.176 0.106 0.026 0.145

Israel 0.439 0.146 0.051 0.185 0.061 0.099 0.177 0.108 0.026 0.147

Slovenia 0.446 0.144 0.051 0.185 0.061 0.100 0.178 0.108 0.026 0.147

--continued
49

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 7 

Marginal shares for aggregate consumption categories, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Per capita 

income

Food, 

beverages, 

& tobacco

Clothing 

& 

footwear Housing

House 

furnishings

Medical 

& health

Transport 

& 

communications Recreation Education Other

High-income countries:

Qatar 0.466 0.140 0.051 0.185 0.061 0.100 0.179 0.109 0.026 0.149

Portugal 0.474 0.138 0.051 0.186 0.061 0.101 0.179 0.110 0.026 0.149

Kuwait 0.480 0.137 0.051 0.186 0.061 0.101 0.179 0.110 0.026 0.150

Singapore 0.501 0.132 0.051 0.186 0.061 0.102 0.180 0.111 0.026 0.151

Malta 0.507 0.131 0.051 0.186 0.061 0.102 0.180 0.111 0.026 0.151

Finland 0.551 0.122 0.051 0.187 0.061 0.104 0.182 0.113 0.026 0.154

New Zealand 0.562 0.119 0.051 0.188 0.061 0.104 0.183 0.114 0.026 0.154

Taiwan, China 0.567 0.118 0.051 0.188 0.061 0.104 0.183 0.114 0.026 0.155

Denmark 0.584 0.115 0.051 0.188 0.061 0.105 0.183 0.115 0.025 0.155

Sweden 0.592 0.114 0.051 0.188 0.061 0.105 0.184 0.115 0.025 0.156

Italy 0.604 0.112 0.051 0.188 0.061 0.106 0.184 0.116 0.025 0.156

Belgium 0.607 0.111 0.051 0.188 0.061 0.106 0.184 0.116 0.025 0.157

Spain 0.618 0.109 0.051 0.189 0.062 0.106 0.185 0.116 0.025 0.157

Hong Kong, China 0.623 0.108 0.051 0.189 0.062 0.106 0.185 0.117 0.025 0.157

Ireland 0.636 0.106 0.051 0.189 0.062 0.107 0.185 0.117 0.025 0.158

Japan 0.640 0.105 0.051 0.189 0.062 0.107 0.185 0.117 0.025 0.158

Australia 0.643 0.105 0.051 0.189 0.062 0.107 0.186 0.118 0.025 0.158

France 0.644 0.105 0.051 0.189 0.062 0.107 0.186 0.118 0.025 0.158

Cyprus 0.658 0.102 0.051 0.189 0.062 0.107 0.186 0.118 0.025 0.159

Germany 0.681 0.099 0.051 0.190 0.062 0.108 0.187 0.119 0.025 0.160

Netherlands 0.682 0.099 0.051 0.190 0.062 0.108 0.187 0.119 0.025 0.160

Norway 0.689 0.097 0.051 0.190 0.062 0.108 0.187 0.119 0.025 0.160

Canada 0.692 0.097 0.051 0.190 0.062 0.108 0.187 0.119 0.025 0.161

Iceland 0.692 0.097 0.051 0.190 0.062 0.108 0.187 0.119 0.025 0.161

Switzerland 0.720 0.093 0.051 0.190 0.062 0.109 0.188 0.120 0.025 0.162

United Kingdom 0.726 0.092 0.051 0.190 0.062 0.109 0.188 0.121 0.025 0.162

Austria 0.750 0.088 0.050 0.191 0.062 0.110 0.189 0.122 0.025 0.163

Luxembourg 0.906 0.068 0.050 0.193 0.063 0.114 0.193 0.126 0.024 0.169

United States 1.000 0.057 0.050 0.194 0.063 0.116 0.195 0.129 0.024 0.172

Low-income 

average 0.058 0.392 0.056 0.160 0.054 0.053 0.128 0.048 0.032 0.078

Middle-income 

average 0.258 0.209 0.053 0.178 0.059 0.087 0.165 0.092 0.028 0.129

High-income 

average 0.638 0.107 0.051 0.189 0.062 0.106 0.185 0.117 0.025 0.158

Countries are reported based on ascending per capita real income levels.

Source: Authors’ calculation using 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.
50

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 8 

Conditional marginal shares for food subgroups, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Per capita 

income

Per capita 

food Cereals Meats Fish Dairy Oils & fats

Fruits & 

vegetables

Food 

other

Beverages 

& tobacco

Low-income countries:

Congo, Dem. Rep. 0.005 0.014 0.311 0.147 0.067 0.078 0.060 0.227 0.048 0.063

Burundi 0.009 0.020 0.286 0.147 0.064 0.078 0.055 0.214 0.077 0.079

Liberia 0.010 0.013 0.318 0.147 0.067 0.078 0.061 0.231 0.040 0.058

Zimbabwe 0.012 0.031 0.252 0.146 0.060 0.079 0.049 0.197 0.116 0.102

Ethiopia 0.014 0.040 0.232 0.146 0.057 0.080 0.045 0.187 0.138 0.115

Guinea-Bissau 0.014 0.040 0.232 0.146 0.057 0.080 0.045 0.187 0.139 0.115

Niger 0.014 0.037 0.239 0.146 0.058 0.080 0.047 0.190 0.130 0.110

Mozambique 0.017 0.055 0.208 0.145 0.054 0.080 0.041 0.174 0.166 0.131

Malawi 0.018 0.017 0.298 0.147 0.065 0.078 0.057 0.220 0.064 0.071

Rwanda 0.019 0.060 0.201 0.145 0.053 0.081 0.040 0.171 0.174 0.136

Chad 0.021 0.050 0.215 0.145 0.055 0.080 0.042 0.178 0.157 0.126

Angola 0.021 0.051 0.214 0.145 0.055 0.080 0.042 0.177 0.159 0.127

Gambia, The 0.022 0.027 0.262 0.146 0.061 0.079 0.051 0.202 0.104 0.095

Central African 

Republic 0.022 0.068 0.191 0.145 0.052 0.081 0.038 0.166 0.185 0.142

Mali 0.022 0.060 0.201 0.145 0.053 0.081 0.040 0.171 0.174 0.135

Tanzania 0.023 0.085 0.174 0.145 0.050 0.081 0.035 0.157 0.205 0.153

Sierra Leone 0.024 0.044 0.224 0.146 0.056 0.080 0.044 0.183 0.147 0.120

Guinea 0.024 0.045 0.224 0.146 0.056 0.080 0.044 0.182 0.148 0.120

Burkina Faso 0.025 0.072 0.187 0.145 0.052 0.081 0.037 0.163 0.190 0.145

Zambia 0.027 0.018 0.294 0.147 0.065 0.078 0.057 0.218 0.067 0.074

Madagascar 0.027 0.069 0.190 0.145 0.052 0.081 0.038 0.165 0.186 0.142

Uganda 0.027 0.062 0.199 0.145 0.053 0.081 0.039 0.170 0.177 0.137

Togo 0.028 0.075 0.184 0.145 0.051 0.081 0.037 0.162 0.193 0.146

Congo, Rep. 0.029 0.070 0.189 0.145 0.052 0.081 0.038 0.165 0.187 0.143

Nepal 0.031 0.094 0.167 0.145 0.049 0.081 0.033 0.153 0.213 0.158

Ghana 0.032 0.061 0.199 0.145 0.053 0.081 0.039 0.170 0.176 0.136

Mauritania 0.034 0.105 0.158 0.144 0.048 0.082 0.032 0.149 0.223 0.164

Bangladesh 0.034 0.110 0.155 0.144 0.048 0.082 0.031 0.147 0.227 0.166

Côte d'Ivoire 0.035 0.095 0.166 0.145 0.049 0.081 0.033 0.153 0.214 0.159

Benin 0.035 0.077 0.182 0.145 0.051 0.081 0.036 0.161 0.195 0.148

Lao PDR 0.035 0.104 0.159 0.144 0.048 0.082 0.032 0.149 0.222 0.163

Djibouti 0.038 0.123 0.146 0.144 0.047 0.082 0.030 0.143 0.237 0.172

Nigeria 0.039 0.092 0.168 0.145 0.050 0.081 0.034 0.154 0.211 0.157

Senegal 0.039 0.109 0.156 0.144 0.048 0.082 0.031 0.148 0.226 0.165

Kenya 0.040 0.074 0.185 0.145 0.052 0.081 0.037 0.163 0.192 0.146

Cambodia 0.042 0.120 0.148 0.144 0.047 0.082 0.030 0.144 0.235 0.171

São Tomé and 

Principe 0.045 0.137 0.137 0.144 0.046 0.082 0.028 0.138 0.247 0.177

Cameroon 0.045 0.123 0.146 0.144 0.047 0.082 0.030 0.143 0.237 0.172

--continued
51

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 8 

Conditional marginal shares for food subgroups, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Per capita 

income

Per capita 

food Cereals Meats Fish Dairy Oils & fats

Fruits & 

vegetables

Food 

other

Beverages 

& tobacco

India 0.047 0.094 0.167 0.145 0.049 0.081 0.033 0.153 0.213 0.158

Yemen, Rep. 0.048 0.119 0.148 0.144 0.047 0.082 0.030 0.144 0.234 0.170

Mongolia 0.048 0.120 0.148 0.144 0.047 0.082 0.030 0.144 0.235 0.171

Vietnam 0.048 0.091 0.169 0.145 0.050 0.081 0.034 0.155 0.210 0.156

Iraq 0.050 0.111 0.154 0.144 0.048 0.082 0.031 0.147 0.228 0.167

Bhutan 0.052 0.127 0.143 0.144 0.047 0.082 0.029 0.141 0.240 0.173

China 0.054 0.094 0.167 0.145 0.049 0.081 0.033 0.153 0.213 0.158

Sudan 0.058 0.154 0.129 0.144 0.045 0.082 0.026 0.134 0.257 0.183

Lesotho 0.061 0.092 0.168 0.145 0.050 0.081 0.034 0.154 0.211 0.157

Tajikistan 0.061 0.103 0.159 0.144 0.048 0.082 0.032 0.149 0.222 0.163

Maldives 0.068 0.116 0.150 0.144 0.047 0.082 0.030 0.145 0.232 0.169

Pakistan 0.069 0.150 0.131 0.144 0.045 0.082 0.027 0.135 0.254 0.182

Morocco 0.071 0.165 0.123 0.144 0.044 0.083 0.025 0.131 0.263 0.187

Kyrgyz Republic 0.075 0.149 0.131 0.144 0.045 0.082 0.027 0.135 0.254 0.182

Philippines 0.075 0.219 0.101 0.143 0.042 0.083 0.021 0.120 0.288 0.201

Cape Verde 0.076 0.167 0.122 0.144 0.044 0.083 0.025 0.131 0.264 0.187

Indonesia 0.076 0.213 0.104 0.144 0.042 0.083 0.022 0.121 0.285 0.200

Bolivia 0.077 0.163 0.125 0.144 0.044 0.083 0.026 0.132 0.261 0.186

Namibia 0.082 0.148 0.132 0.144 0.045 0.082 0.027 0.136 0.253 0.181

Sri Lanka 0.085 0.182 0.116 0.144 0.043 0.083 0.024 0.127 0.271 0.192

Botswana 0.086 0.137 0.138 0.144 0.046 0.082 0.028 0.139 0.246 0.177

Azerbaijan 0.089 0.272 0.085 0.143 0.040 0.084 0.018 0.112 0.307 0.212

Gabon 0.090 0.188 0.113 0.144 0.043 0.083 0.024 0.126 0.274 0.193

Syrian Arab 

Republic 0.092 0.257 0.089 0.143 0.040 0.083 0.019 0.114 0.301 0.209

Equatorial Guinea 0.099 0.204 0.107 0.144 0.042 0.083 0.022 0.123 0.281 0.197

Paraguay 0.102 0.267 0.086 0.143 0.040 0.083 0.019 0.112 0.305 0.211

Fiji 0.106 0.228 0.098 0.143 0.041 0.083 0.021 0.119 0.291 0.203

Swaziland 0.110 0.213 0.104 0.144 0.042 0.083 0.022 0.121 0.285 0.200

Moldova 0.112 0.153 0.129 0.144 0.045 0.082 0.026 0.134 0.256 0.183

Egypt, Arab Rep. 0.114 0.279 0.083 0.143 0.039 0.084 0.018 0.111 0.309 0.213

Ecuador 0.121 0.240 0.094 0.143 0.041 0.083 0.020 0.117 0.296 0.206

Jordan 0.121 0.294 0.079 0.143 0.039 0.084 0.017 0.109 0.314 0.216

Georgia 0.123 0.216 0.103 0.143 0.042 0.083 0.022 0.121 0.286 0.200

Albania 0.125 0.242 0.094 0.143 0.041 0.083 0.020 0.116 0.296 0.206

Colombia 0.127 0.244 0.093 0.143 0.041 0.083 0.020 0.116 0.297 0.207

Armenia 0.130 0.374 0.060 0.143 0.037 0.084 0.014 0.099 0.335 0.228

Thailand 0.132 0.234 0.097 0.143 0.041 0.083 0.021 0.118 0.293 0.204

Peru 0.136 0.301 0.077 0.143 0.039 0.084 0.017 0.108 0.315 0.217

Tunisia 0.141 0.324 0.071 0.143 0.038 0.084 0.016 0.105 0.322 0.221

--continued
52

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 8 

Conditional marginal shares for food subgroups, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Per capita 

income

Per capita 

food Cereals Meats Fish Dairy Oils & fats

Fruits & 

vegetables

Food 

other

Beverages 

& tobacco

Middle-income countries:

Ukraine 0.151 0.312 0.074 0.143 0.038 0.084 0.016 0.106 0.319 0.219

Montenegro 0.151 0.330 0.070 0.143 0.038 0.084 0.016 0.104 0.324 0.222

Malaysia 0.154 0.256 0.090 0.143 0.040 0.083 0.019 0.114 0.301 0.209

Venezuela, RB 0.157 0.342 0.067 0.143 0.038 0.084 0.015 0.103 0.327 0.224

Brazil 0.160 0.281 0.082 0.143 0.039 0.084 0.018 0.110 0.310 0.214

South Africa 0.168 0.278 0.083 0.143 0.039 0.084 0.018 0.111 0.309 0.213

Macedonia, FYR 0.180 0.388 0.058 0.143 0.036 0.084 0.013 0.098 0.338 0.230

Turkey 0.182 0.310 0.075 0.143 0.038 0.084 0.017 0.107 0.318 0.219

Serbia 0.193 0.349 0.066 0.143 0.037 0.084 0.015 0.102 0.328 0.225

Belarus 0.196 0.433 0.049 0.143 0.035 0.084 0.012 0.093 0.347 0.236

Bosnia and 

Herzegovina 0.196 0.431 0.049 0.143 0.035 0.084 0.012 0.094 0.347 0.236

Saudi Arabia 0.200 0.356 0.064 0.143 0.037 0.084 0.015 0.101 0.330 0.226

Romania 0.201 0.396 0.056 0.143 0.036 0.084 0.013 0.097 0.340 0.231

Mauritius 0.204 0.432 0.049 0.143 0.035 0.084 0.012 0.094 0.347 0.236

Chile 0.204 0.310 0.075 0.143 0.038 0.084 0.017 0.106 0.318 0.219

Uruguay 0.205 0.379 0.059 0.143 0.037 0.084 0.014 0.099 0.336 0.229

Kazakhstan 0.212 0.260 0.088 0.143 0.040 0.083 0.019 0.113 0.303 0.210

Russian Federation 0.220 0.446 0.047 0.142 0.035 0.084 0.011 0.092 0.350 0.237

Argentina 0.224 0.456 0.045 0.142 0.035 0.085 0.011 0.091 0.352 0.238

Oman 0.228 0.455 0.045 0.142 0.035 0.085 0.011 0.092 0.352 0.238

Bulgaria 0.235 0.411 0.053 0.143 0.036 0.084 0.013 0.095 0.343 0.233

Iran, Islamic Rep. 0.251 0.211 0.104 0.144 0.042 0.083 0.022 0.122 0.284 0.199

Latvia 0.270 0.500 0.038 0.142 0.034 0.085 0.010 0.088 0.360 0.243

Mexico 0.274 0.550 0.031 0.142 0.033 0.085 0.008 0.084 0.369 0.248

Lebanon 0.284 0.673 0.015 0.142 0.031 0.085 0.006 0.076 0.386 0.258

Poland 0.314 0.505 0.037 0.142 0.034 0.085 0.010 0.087 0.361 0.244

Lithuania 0.316 0.640 0.019 0.142 0.032 0.085 0.006 0.078 0.382 0.256

Croatia 0.318 0.483 0.041 0.142 0.034 0.085 0.010 0.089 0.357 0.241

Estonia 0.319 0.566 0.029 0.142 0.033 0.085 0.008 0.083 0.371 0.249

Macao, China 0.332 0.489 0.040 0.142 0.034 0.085 0.010 0.089 0.358 0.242

Brunei Darussalam 0.347 0.552 0.030 0.142 0.033 0.085 0.008 0.084 0.369 0.248

Hungary 0.351 0.514 0.036 0.142 0.034 0.085 0.009 0.087 0.363 0.245

Slovak Republic 0.353 0.520 0.035 0.142 0.034 0.085 0.009 0.086 0.364 0.245

Bahrain 0.379 0.666 0.016 0.142 0.031 0.085 0.006 0.077 0.385 0.258

Korea, Rep. 0.380 0.392 0.057 0.143 0.036 0.084 0.013 0.097 0.339 0.231

Czech Republic 0.420 0.607 0.023 0.142 0.032 0.085 0.007 0.080 0.377 0.253

Israel 0.439 0.577 0.027 0.142 0.033 0.085 0.008 0.082 0.373 0.250

Slovenia 0.446 0.634 0.020 0.142 0.032 0.085 0.006 0.079 0.381 0.255

--continued
53

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data / TB-1929

Economic Research Service / USDA

Appendix table 8 

Conditional marginal shares for food subgroups, 144 countries, 2005, continued

Country

Per capita 

income

Per capita 

food Cereals Meats Fish Dairy Oils & fats

Fruits & 

vegetables

Food 

other

Beverages 

& tobacco

High-income countries:

Qatar 0.466 0.613 0.022 0.142 0.032 0.085 0.007 0.080 0.378 0.253

Portugal 0.474 0.797 0.002 0.142 0.030 0.086 0.003 0.070 0.401 0.267

Kuwait 0.480 0.762 0.006 0.142 0.030 0.086 0.004 0.071 0.397 0.265

Singapore 0.501 0.432 0.049 0.143 0.035 0.084 0.012 0.094 0.347 0.236

Malta 0.507 0.769 0.005 0.142 0.030 0.086 0.004 0.071 0.398 0.265

Finland 0.551 0.709 0.011 0.142 0.031 0.085 0.005 0.074 0.391 0.261

New Zealand 0.562 0.734 0.009 0.142 0.031 0.085 0.004 0.073 0.394 0.263

Taiwan, China 0.567 0.675 0.015 0.142 0.031 0.085 0.006 0.076 0.387 0.258

Denmark 0.584 0.659 0.017 0.142 0.031 0.085 0.006 0.077 0.384 0.257

Sweden 0.592 0.635 0.020 0.142 0.032 0.085 0.006 0.078 0.381 0.255

Italy 0.604 0.834 -0.001 0.142 0.029 0.086 0.003 0.068 0.405 0.269

Belgium 0.607 0.747 0.007 0.142 0.030 0.086 0.004 0.072 0.395 0.264

Spain 0.618 1.132 -0.025 0.141 0.027 0.086 -0.002 0.056 0.432 0.285

Hong Kong, China 0.623 0.639 0.019 0.142 0.032 0.085 0.006 0.078 0.382 0.256

Ireland 0.636 0.734 0.009 0.142 0.031 0.085 0.004 0.073 0.394 0.263

Japan 0.640 0.682 0.014 0.142 0.031 0.085 0.005 0.076 0.387 0.259

Australia 0.643 0.746 0.007 0.142 0.030 0.086 0.004 0.072 0.395 0.263

France 0.644 0.787 0.003 0.142 0.030 0.086 0.003 0.070 0.400 0.266

Cyprus 0.658 0.999 -0.015 0.141 0.028 0.086 0.000 0.061 0.421 0.278

Germany 0.681 0.757 0.006 0.142 0.030 0.086 0.004 0.072 0.397 0.264

Netherlands 0.682 0.750 0.007 0.142 0.030 0.086 0.004 0.072 0.396 0.264

Norway 0.689 0.711 0.011 0.142 0.031 0.085 0.005 0.074 0.391 0.261

Canada 0.692 0.670 0.016 0.142 0.031 0.085 0.006 0.076 0.386 0.258

Iceland 0.692 0.755 0.006 0.142 0.030 0.086 0.004 0.072 0.396 0.264

Switzerland 0.720 0.958 -0.012 0.141 0.028 0.086 0.001 0.062 0.417 0.276

United Kingdom 0.726 0.846 -0.002 0.142 0.029 0.086 0.002 0.067 0.406 0.270

Austria 0.750 0.891 -0.006 0.142 0.029 0.086 0.002 0.065 0.411 0.273

Luxembourg 0.906 1.239 -0.032 0.141 0.026 0.087 -0.003 0.052 0.440 0.289

United States 1.000 1.000 -0.015 0.141 0.028 0.086 0.000 0.061 0.421 0.278

Low-income 

average 0.058 0.130 0.161 0.145 0.049 0.082 0.032 0.150 0.220 0.162

Middle-income 

average 0.258 0.439 0.051 0.143 0.036 0.084 0.012 0.094 0.345 0.234

High-income 

average 0.638 0.781 0.005 0.142 0.030 0.086 0.004 0.071 0.398 0.265

Countries are reported based on ascending per capita real income levels.

Source: Authors’ calculation using 2005 International Comparison Program (ICP) data.