Decline in Food Consumption in Azerbaijan in 2023, State Statistics Committee Reports

The State Statistics Committee (SSC) of Azerbaijan has released its 2023 report on food consumption per capita, revealing a continued decline in various food categories. The data shows that the consumption of several essential food items remains significantly below international norms, raising concerns about food security and nutrition in the country. This is stated in the article "The level of food consumption is very low and continues to decline" by agroexpert Vahid Magerramov.

Bread

In 2023, per capita bread consumption in Azerbaijan was 117.7 kg, aligning with the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 117 kg. Notably, 70% of the flour used in bread production is imported, highlighting the country's reliance on foreign sources for staple food production.

Meat and Meat Products

The SSC reported that per capita consumption of meat and meat products stood at 43.5 kg in 2023, which is only 55.7% of the WHO recommended 78 kg. Azerbaijan's domestic production accounted for 33.7 kg per capita, while the rest was covered by imports, including 41,707 tons of frozen meat and live cattle worth approximately $115.8 million.

Milk and Dairy Products

Azerbaijan's per capita consumption of milk and dairy products was 258.8 kg in 2023, down by 0.5 kg from the previous year. This is 63.9% of the WHO's annual recommendation of 405 kg. The country meets 50% of its milk demand through domestic production, supplemented by imports.

Eggs

The average per capita egg consumption in 2023 was 189, representing 65.1% of the WHO's recommended 290 eggs per person annually.

Fish and Fish Products

Fish consumption was reported at 8 kg per capita, of which 6 kg were domestically produced. This is significantly below the WHO recommendation of 18.2 kg, indicating that Azerbaijan meets only 43.9% of the international standard.

Potatoes

Per capita potato consumption was 83.9 kg in 2023, an 8.1% decrease from the previous year. This amount is 71.7% of the WHO's recommended 117 kg. Domestic production covers 59.7% of the country's potato consumption needs.

Vegetables and Melon Crops

Azerbaijan saw a slight decline in vegetable consumption to 139.3 kg per capita in 2023. Melon consumption was 35.8 kg, a significant drop from previous years. Vegetable and melon consumption exceeded WHO standards by 35.5 kg.

Fruits and Berries

The consumption of fruits and berries has declined by 20% over the past four years to 70.1 kg per capita in 2023, only 37.9% of the WHO's recommended 185 kg.

Sugar and Confectionery

The SSC reported a per capita consumption of 27.5 kg of sugar and 14.2 kg of confectionery products in 2023. Combined, this is 88.7% of the WHO's recommended 47 kg. Azerbaijan imports 95% of its raw sugar.

Butter and Vegetable Oil

Butter consumption was significantly low at 3.9 kg per capita, only 56.5% of the minimum consumer basket standard. Vegetable oil consumption also decreased sharply to 8.2 kg per capita, meeting 90% of the WHO's 9.1 kg standard.

Comparison with International Standards

Azerbaijan's food consumption in 2023 compared to WHO standards is as follows:

Domestic Production

In 2023, Azerbaijan's domestic production covered:

The article highlights a troubling trend of decreasing food consumption across various categories, pointing to a need for policy interventions to enhance domestic production and ensure food security.