These Are the 10 Countries with the Highest Rice Prices in the World, Mid-September 2023

Rice prices in Indonesia have been steadily rising, particularly in the last month, with a significant surge. This isn't limited to Indonesia; according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), rice prices are also increasing in several other countries.

Jokowi stated that the global rise in rice prices is making the commodity more expensive domestically. "Yes (the rice price increase) is because prices are rising in all countries. It's the same with other goods. Fuel (BBM) is like that too. If global market prices rise, domestic prices will inevitably be affected," Jokowi said, as reported by *CNBC Indonesia* on Monday, September 11, 2023.

According to Jokowi, the price increase is a result of several countries halting rice exports. Furthermore, rice prices are also rising due to declining rice production as a consequence of the El Niño phenomenon.

"Especially since several countries have stopped exporting rice, like India, which has large production and usually large exports (that have) stopped. It's the same as before, Ukraine and Russia had wheat stocks of up to 200 million tons, then (exports) stopped, so wheat prices were shaken and rose," Jokowi said.

Therefore, Jokowi stated that the government is currently taking steps to maintain rice prices. These include rice management and flooding the retail market with rice stocks from Perum Bulog (Indonesia's state-owned food logistics agency).

Which country currently has the highest rice prices in the world?

According to *Numbeo* data, the United States has the world's highest rice prices. The price of white rice in the US reached Rp70,173.88 per kilogram on September 13, 2023.

The second highest rice price in the world is in South Korea. The price of white rice per kilogram in South Korea reached Rp51,655.12.

Next, Canada is ranked third with a rice price of Rp50,537.98 per kilogram. Followed by Switzerland and Japan with white rice prices of Rp50,128.13 and Rp48,591.94 per kilogram, respectively.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's rice price ranks 94th out of 99 countries on the *Numbeo* list. The price of white rice in Indonesia is approximately Rp13,056.65 per kilogram.

According to *Numbeo*, the cheapest rice prices are in Bangladesh, at Rp9,715.33 per kilogram.

Here is a complete list of the 10 countries with the highest rice prices in the world as of September 13, 2023:

1. United States: Rp70,173.88 (per kilogram)
2. South Korea: Rp51,655.12
3. Canada: Rp50,537.98
4. Switzerland: Rp50,128.13
5. Japan: Rp48,591.94
6. Taiwan: Rp45,309.39
7. Norway: Rp42,425.79
8. Malta: Rp40,973.64
9. Sweden: Rp40,636.66
10. Israel: Rp39,611.02