Turkey at the top in wheat consumption: Is bread the only option on the table?

According to OECD data, Turkey ranks first by a wide margin in per capita wheat consumption. 

As of 2025, annual per capita wheat consumption in Turkey has reached 204 kilograms. In the same period, the OECD average remained at only 86 kilograms.

According to experts, this picture reflects not only a dietary preference but also an economic necessity. Faced with rising meat, dairy, and vegetable prices, bread and wheat products, which are cheaper and more filling, have become a staple food for large segments of the population.

Nutritionists warn that such high wheat consumption could lead to a monotonous diet. It is pointed out that a diet unbalanced in terms of protein, vitamins, and minerals could bring about health problems in the long term.

Economists, on the other hand, read the data from a different perspective: the increase in wheat consumption is a direct result of the decline in purchasing power and the deterioration in income distribution. As diversity on dining tables decreases, bread is increasingly becoming the "main meal."

News Source: 12punto