44.8% of consumer spending by Uzbekistan residents goes to food
These are the results of a global study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on 2025 expenditures
In March 2026, the National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan provided a different estimate. According to their data, in 2025, food accounted for 56.5% of household consumer spending.
The discrepancy is due to differences in calculation methodology. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s statistics include only food purchased for home consumption. Spending on meals in cafes and restaurants, as well as expenses on alcohol and tobacco, are not included in this indicator.
As household incomes grow, they typically spend a smaller portion of their budget on food. At the same time, affluent families may spend more on food in absolute terms than low-income families. Therefore, the percentage of spending does not directly indicate the cost of a food basket.
A high share of spending on food, however, may signal financial vulnerability for households. If a significant portion of the budget is spent on food, rising prices for it severely limits families' ability to cover other necessary expenses.
