Ukraine among the top 15 countries with the fastest food price growth in 2026: FAO forecast

In 2026, Ukraine will be among the top 15 countries with the fastest growing food prices, according to FAO data. Find out which countries top the ranking, what global food inflation will be like, and where the situation is most tense

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In 2026, Ukraine joined the list of countries where one of the highest rates of food price growth is expected. According to the forecast of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), food inflation in Ukraine may reach 9.2% on an annualized basis. This is reported by Visual Capitalist.

What will global food inflation be in 2026?

On average, global food inflation in 2026 is forecast to be 3.2%. At the same time, food price dynamics in 160 countries will vary significantly: from double-digit growth rates in some economies to even a decline in food prices in others.

Experts note that food inflation depends on a number of factors:

● currency fluctuations;

● global commodity prices;

● disruptions in international trade;

● domestic supply problems.

The fastest price growth is observed in countries with national currency devaluation or prolonged economic instability.

Iran is the leader in terms of growth rates

Iran ranks first in the rating. In 2026, food prices there are projected to rise by 55.9% on an annual basis.

Prolonged inflationary pressure and the devaluation of the Iranian currency have already led to a significant increase in food prices. According to analysts' estimates, the situation is unlikely to improve rapidly in 2026.

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Top 15 countries with the highest expected food price increases

The fifteen countries with the fastest food price growth in 2026 include:

● Argentina — 33.2%

● Turkey — 25.1%

● Haiti — 24.1%

● Malawi — 21.2%

● Nigeria — 17.1%

● Lebanon — 14.9%

● Angola — 14.8%

● Kazakhstan — 12.7%

● Zambia — 10.8%

● Ethiopia — 10.1%

● Jamaica — 9.7%

● Mongolia — 9.7%

● Kyrgyzstan — 9.4%

● Ukraine — 9.2%

Ukraine ranks 15th among the 160 countries included in the study.

Regional differences: where the situation is most tense

Despite the global average of 3.2%, regional differences are significant.

The most tense situation is predicted in the Middle East and North Africa region. There, the rate of price increases is almost three times higher than the global average.

In other regions, the following food price increases are expected in 2026:

● Latin America — 4.8%

● North America — 4.3%

● Europe and Central Asia — 4.2%

● Sub-Saharan Africa — 3.8%

● South Asia — 2.7%

● Asia-Pacific region — 1%

Thus, inflation will remain single-digit in most regions, but for some countries, particularly those under pressure from economic instability, it could pose a serious challenge.

We remind you! The war has sharply accelerated demographic processes that have been brewing in Ukraine for years: mass migration, falling birth rates, and rapid population aging. The consequences of these changes are already being felt in the economy, the social sphere, and the labor market. Read more about why Ukraine is on the brink of a demographic catastrophe and what this could lead to.

Photo: shutterstock

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