UN Report: 38.6% of Bangladeshis Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet

A joint global report released by five UN specialized agencies—including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP)—has revealed a critical challenge in Bangladesh's food and nutrition security.

According to 'The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026', approximately 38.6 percent of the population in Bangladesh cannot afford a healthy diet. Unaffordable market prices have left nearly two out of every five individuals deprived of essential nutrition, impacting an estimated 67.8 million people in 2025.

The report emphasizes that a standard 'healthy diet basket' requires a daily intake of at least 2,330 kilocalories across essential food groups. Experts note that skyrocketing prices for key commodities—such as meat, fish, dairy, and fruits—have forced low-income households to eliminate vital nutrients from their daily meals. Statistically, the daily cost of a healthy diet in Bangladesh has risen from $3.09 PPP in 2017 to $4.59 PPP in 2025. Although there has been progress compared to 2017—when 62.8 percent of the population was unable to afford nutritious food—persistent inflation and supply chain inefficiencies continue to keep balanced diets out of reach for millions.