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This map reflects the data from the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It reveals the two most commonly consumed fruits in proportion to each other, in each country. The fruits included are orange, apple, banana, cantaloupe, coconut, peach, pear, grapefruit, date, grape, pineapple, mango, mandarin, watermelon, papaya, plum, and lemon. The three most commonly consumed fruits across the world are bananas, apples, and oranges.
While fruits that are commonly cultivated in a specific country are more likely to be a staple food in that region, this is not always the case. The global trade of fruits means that non-native varieties are still often consumed in many countries. Hence, the most commonly consumed fruits in a country can be influenced by both economic exchanges and cultural traditions.
Europe
Apples are one of the most popular fruits in Europe and are widely grown in Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe due to their ideal growing conditions. The cool winters and moderate summers in these regions provide the perfect climate for apple trees to thrive. Oranges, on the other hand, are more commonly consumed in Mediterranean countries, where the climate is warmer. Grapes and bananas are also very popular fruits throughout Europe. Plums are especially common in former countries of Yugoslavia.
North America
In the United States and Canada, apples are also very popular, since large portions of these countries have a temperate climate. In the tropical regions of North America, like Central America and the Caribbean, oranges are more widely consumed. Bananas are also quite popular throughout the continent. Interestingly enough, the Bahamas is the only major country where grapefruit is the most eaten fruit. It originated in Barbados, another former British colony in the region.
South America
Bananas are the most popular fruits in the tropical regions of South America. During the colonial period, Portuguese and Spanish explorers brought these fruits to the region and were easily able to cultivate them, since they grow well in hot humid climates. The orange is another extremely widely consumed fruit in South America. This fruit was also introduced to the continent by Europeans. Oranges are high vitamin C content, which helped to prevent scurvy among sailors on long sea voyages. Chile is an outlier since it is the only country in the continent where apples are most prevalent.
Africa
In addition to South America, bananas are also particularly popular in Sub-Saharan Africa. On average, 3 to 11 bananas per person are consumed daily in Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda. Dates are Djibouti, Somalia, and Mauritania where they are often used in sweet dishes. Pineapples are especially popular in Benin. In the Sahel region, mangos are one of the most commonly consumed fruits. Furthermore, the watermelon is the most prevalent fruit in several countries North African countries. Interestingly enough, there are a few countries in Africa where the apple is the most commonly eaten fruit. Southern Africa has favorable conditions for apple cultivation.
Asia
The continent of Asia has a wide range of climates and cultural traditions, resulting in a diverse range of commonly consumed fruits. Dates are a popular fruit in several Arabian countries, while bananas are more often eaten in the tropical regions of Asia, where they are originally from. Meanwhile, in drier and more northern regions, apples tend to be more popular. Grapes are commonly consumed in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Their hot, dry summers and mild winters provide ideal growing conditions. Mangos are especially common in South Asia and Yemen. Cantaloupe is the most prevalent in Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. Interestingly enough, South Korea is the only country in the world where mandarins are the most commonly eaten fruit.
Oceania
In the Pacific Islands, bananas are the staple fruit, with a variety of different banana types grown and consumed. The banana is also the most widely consumed fruit in Australia and New Zealand as well, although apples are also popular there. Coconuts are also often eaten in many countries in Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Coconuts thrive in coastal locations in tropical regions.
Please note that this article has been updated to include FAOstat’s data on a wider variety of fruits. It also combines bananas and plantains into the same category, since countries are inconsistent about their definition.
