Free Meals Programs Exist Not Only in Wealthy Countries, but also in Poor Ones

Economics & Macro

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Adi Ahdiat 27/02/2024 11:32 WIB

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According to the World Food Programme, many countries, ranging from high-income to middle- and low-income nations, have implemented free school meal policies.

Number of Countries with National Free School Meals Policies by Income Class (2022)

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Free Meals Programs Exist Not Only in Wealthy Countries, but also in Poor Ones

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Number of Countries with National Free School Meals Policies by Income Class (2022)

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Many countries, ranging from high-income to middle-income and low-income nations, have implemented school feeding or free school meal policies. This is documented in the World Food Programme (WFP)'s report, *The State of School Feeding Worldwide 2022*.

The WFP defines school feeding as the provision of food to children through school-based programs. These programs can take the form of meals served directly at school, cash assistance for food purchases, or take-home food packages.

"School feeding can impact at least four sectors: agriculture, education, health, and social protection," stated the WFP in its report.

According to the WFP, well-nourished children learn better, have a greater chance of maximizing their potential as adults, and improve their earning prospects.

The WFP also assesses that free school meal programs can directly benefit smallholder farmers, support food production and local economies, and foster diverse and nutritious food markets.

Based on WFP data, at least 65 countries had national school feeding policies in 2022. Of these, 12 were high-income countries, 14 were upper-middle-income countries, 21 were lower-middle-income countries, and 18 were low-income countries.

The following is a complete list of countries with national free school meal policies, categorized by income level, along with the program coverage progress in 2022:

High-Income Countries:

1. Hungary: 100% (proportion of primary school students receiving free meals)
2. Czech Republic: 100%
3. Palau: 100%
4. Finland: 100%
5. Panama: 71%
6. United States: 65%
7. Portugal: 50%
8. United Arab Emirates: 18%
9. Trinidad and Tobago: 17%
10. Switzerland: 13%
11. Cyprus: 10%
12. Greece: 0%

Upper-Middle-Income Countries:

1. Brazil: 100% (proportion of primary school students receiving free meals)
2. Botswana: 100%
3. Kazakhstan: 88%
4. Guatemala: 87%
5. South Africa: 87%
6. Namibia: 67%
7. Armenia: 66%
8. Thailand: 63%
9. Sri Lanka: 62%
10. Mexico: 47%
11. Saint Lucia: 45%
12. Malaysia: 15%
13. Guyana: Coverage data unavailable
14. Iraq: Coverage data unavailable

Lower-Middle-Income Countries:

1. Timor-Leste: 100% (proportion of primary school students receiving free meals)
2. Mongolia: 100%
3. Eswatini: 100%
4. Honduras: 100%
5. Sao Tome and Principe: 100%
6. Lesotho: 85%
7. Zimbabwe: 64%
8. Zambia: 57%
9. India: 55%
10. Sudan: 39%
11. Bhutan: 33%
12. Philippines: 27%
13. Mauritania: 26%
14. Côte d'Ivoire: 25%
15. Kenya: 22%
16. Laos: 21%
17. Tunisia: 20%
18. Bangladesh: 15%
19. Cambodia: 12%
20. Kyrgyzstan: 12%
21. Congo: Coverage data unavailable

Low-Income Countries:

1. Burkina Faso: 100% (proportion of primary school students receiving free meals)
2. Nepal: 76%
3. Malawi: 60%
4. Tajikistan: 56%
5. Gambia: 47%
6. Benin: 38%
7. Sierra Leone: 28%
8. Liberia: 26%
9. Burundi: 23%
10. Mali: 20%
11. Niger: 17%
12. Uganda: 11%
13. Ethiopia: 8%
14. Madagascar: 8%
15. Togo: 8%
16. Chad: 5%
17. Mozambique: 4%
18. Guinea-Bissau: Coverage data unavailable

Editor : Adi Ahdiat

"Disclosure: This is an AI-generated translation of the original article. We strive for accuracy, but please note that automated translations may contain errors or slight inconsistencies."