Modelled estimate
Food wasted worldwide
How quickly does the world discard food after it reaches consumers? This model turns UNEP's annual estimate into a visible flow.
Modelled educational rate · not a direct real-time measurement
What this counter includes
The UNEP Food Waste Index covers food and associated inedible parts discarded by households, restaurants and other food services, and retailers. It does not include the separate FAO category of food lost between harvest and retail.
Why the number moves
UNEP publishes an annual modelled estimate, not a live sensor feed. DynamicFacts divides 1.052 billion tonnes evenly across an average year so the scale can be understood. Real waste varies by season, place and day.
Could this food end hunger?
The scale is large enough to matter, but mass alone cannot answer the question. The total includes inedible parts, and safe surplus food is not necessarily near people who need it. Explore compares the figures without pretending that discarded food can simply be collected and redistributed.
Could the food we waste feed everyone who is hungry?
The arithmetic suggests abundance. The real world adds edible shares, safety, distance, poverty and access.
Open service →Data status
Last reviewed: 16 October 2026
Modelled educational rate · not a direct real-time measurement