Belarusians Eating Less

Even propaganda can't hide the statistics.

Judging by the data from the new statistical compilation of Belstat, Belarusians began to eat less in 2022. Food consumption in households has decreased at all points, both among the urban population and in rural areas.

Food consumption is calculated per one member of the household - that is, of the family - in kilograms per year: roughly speaking, the total amount of purchased products in the country is divided by the number of households and their members.

Belarusians mostly eat dairy products, vegetables, meat, bread, while fish and fats - the least. But the indicators have decreased for all groups of products.

Thus, the average Belarusian ate 328 kilos of dairy products in 2021, while in 2022 - 284 kilos. Bread - 85 kg the year before last, while only 77 kg last year. Meat - 89 and 82 kilos. Even the consumption of potatoes has decreased - from 59 to 57 kilos.

However, a strong drop is noticeable in comparison with 2021, in which, for some unknown reason, the consumption of products in the country was higher than usual. The difference between 2022 and the previous years is not so significant.

It is interesting that they eat the biggest amount of bread in Brest and Minsk regions, while in Minsk - the least. Fats, sugar, potatoes, as well as fish and vegetables, as well as dairy products and fruits are consumed the least in the capital. The biggest amount of meat was eaten in Hrodna region, of potatoes and sugar - in Homel region, of eggs - in Mahiliou region.

Also last year, the total caloric content of consumed products per one household member per day decreased: it amounted to 2630 kcal compared to 2862 kcal in 2021 on average in the country. At the same time, in low-income households, the calorie intake averaged only 1,805 kcal. The highest calorie intake was in Hrodna and Minsk regions, and the lowest - in Minsk.