Charted: Where Food Inflation is the Highest

Food prices don’t rise equally around the world.

While some countries are dealing with mild increases in grocery prices, others are facing a full-blown food crisis in which basic meals are becoming unaffordable almost overnight.

In countries hit by conflict, currency collapse, drought, or heavy dependence on imports, food inflation has surged to extreme levels, forcing millions of families to spend more just to survive.

This visualization ranks the 30 countries with the highest food inflation rates in the latest fiscal year, revealing where food costs are rising fastest and why Africa and Asia remain at the center of the global food affordability crisis.

South Sudan leads the world in food inflation at 106%, driven by civil war, droughts, and import disruptions.
Generally, Africa and Asia dominate high rates, with 13 and 7 countries in the top 30, respectively.

Africa has the most countries with t he highest food inflation.

Asia and Europe each have six countries on the list affected by food inflation, including Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

In the US, grocery prices rose 2.3% by September 2025, putting pressure on food banks.

According to Reuters, the eurozone is attempting to reduce energy costs, but this effort is not halting the overall increase in energy prices.

In Japan, inflation is around 3% due to similar issues, as energy costs continue to add to it.