Which Country Has the Highest Fat Intake? A Global Perspective on Nutrition

October 25, 2025 •

3 min read

According to data from the OECD, processed by WorldAtlas, Belgium topped the list for total fat intake with an average of 95 grams per person per day. However, the answer to which country has the highest fat intake is complex and depends heavily on the type of fat and the data source used.

Quick Summary

Different studies present varying conclusions about the countries with the highest fat consumption, depending on whether total fat in grams or saturated fat as a percentage of energy is measured. Learn about the key contenders, the distinction between fat types, and the health consequences of excess intake.

Key Points

No Single Answer: The country with the highest fat intake depends on whether total fat in grams or saturated fat as a percentage of energy is measured.
Belgium and Western Europe: Recent data suggests Belgium has one of the highest total fat intakes in grams, alongside other Western European nations.
Samoa and Kiribati: Studies focusing on the percentage of energy from saturated fat point to countries like Samoa and Kiribati, linked to high palm oil consumption.
Quality Over Quantity: The WHO recommends replacing saturated and trans fats with unsaturated fats to reduce health risks, emphasizing fat quality over just quantity.
Health Consequences: Excessive consumption of unhealthy fats is linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, digestive issues, and impaired brain function.
Global Fat Trends: Fat intake trends vary globally; some regions show increases in total fat intake, while others see shifts towards healthier fat sources.
Outdated Data: Older studies, such as one from 2002 citing France, may no longer reflect current dietary habits or reporting methodologies.

The Challenge of Defining "Highest Fat Intake"

Pinpointing a single country with the highest fat intake is challenging because data sources and metrics vary. The answer can differ based on whether total grams of fat or the proportion of calories from a specific fat type is measured. This underscores the need to examine the details behind the data.

Total Fat Intake in Grams

Recent data from the OECD indicates European nations have the highest total daily fat consumption in grams.

Belgium is often cited at the top with about 95 grams per day.
Germany, Finland, and the Netherlands also have high average daily intakes around 80-86 grams.

Diets high in cheese, dairy, and meat contribute to these figures. In contrast, countries like India and Indonesia report much lower intakes. This metric focuses on quantity, not the type of fat consumed.

Saturated Fat as a Percentage of Energy

Measuring saturated fat as a percentage of total calories reveals a different picture. A 2010 analysis published in The BMJ identified other countries with high saturated fat intake by this metric.

Samoa, Kiribati, and other island nations known for palm oil production were highest in saturated fat as a percentage of energy.
Sri Lanka, Romania, and Malaysia also ranked high in this category.

This highlights how local food sources, like palm oil, can significantly influence the proportion of saturated fat in a diet.

The Importance of Fat Quality: Saturated vs. Unsaturated

The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of fat quality.

Unsaturated Fats: Found in foods like fish, nuts, and avocados, these are beneficial for heart health. The traditional Icelandic diet is an example of a high-fat diet with healthier fat sources.
Saturated and Trans Fats: Common in fatty meats, butter, palm oil, and processed foods, these can raise LDL cholesterol and increase heart disease risk.

Health Consequences of High Fat Diets

Excessive consumption of unhealthy fats, particularly saturated and trans fats, carries significant health risks.

Obesity: High-fat foods are calorie-dense and can lead to weight gain, increasing the risk of chronic diseases.
Cardiovascular Disease: Saturated and trans fats raise LDL cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Studies show a link between high saturated fat intake and increased heart disease mortality.
Type 2 Diabetes: Diets high in fat can increase the risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Digestive Problems: Consuming too many high-fat foods can cause digestive issues.
Impaired Brain Function: Research suggests unhealthy fats can negatively impact cognitive function.

Global Fat Consumption: Trends and Variations

Global dietary fat trends are complex. Studies show increases in both total and saturated fat intake in Korean children between 2007 and 2017. Chinese adults also saw increased fat intake, with shifts in fat sources, from 1997 to 2011. While global saturated fat intake was relatively stable from 1990 to 2010, polyunsaturated fat intake rose.

Comparison Table: Diverse Metrics for High Fat Intake


Metric	Example Country	Data Year	Source	Notes
Highest Total Fat (g/day)	Belgium	2015/2019	WorldAtlas/Wash Post	High total intake, including dairy and meat.
Highest Saturated Fat (% Energy)	Samoa, Kiribati	2010	The BMJ/NIH	High intake attributed to palm oil, despite lower overall fat intake than Belgium.
Highest Total Fat (g/day) (Historical)	France	2002	Guinness World Records	Older data showing very high consumption, potentially reflecting outdated habits or reporting methods.
Lowest Saturated Fat (% Energy)	Bangladesh, Nepal	2010	The BMJ/NIH	Represents very low saturated fat consumption.

Conclusion

The country with the highest fat intake is not a simple question due to varying measurements, time periods, and dietary compositions. Recent data on total fat in grams points to Western European countries like Belgium, while older data and saturated fat percentages highlight island nations such as Samoa and Kiribati. Global health guidelines emphasize the importance of fat type, recommending the replacement of unhealthy saturated and trans fats with unsaturated fats to improve health outcomes and reduce risks of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

World Health Organization (WHO) - Healthy diet recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions

Recent reports based on data from the OECD indicate that Belgium has one of the highest total fat intakes, measured in grams per person per day. However, other studies use different metrics, such as saturated fat as a percentage of energy, which show different countries at the top.

The variation in rankings comes from different data sources and the specific metrics measured. For example, some studies measure total fat in grams, while others measure saturated fat as a percentage of total calories, leading to different countries appearing at the top of the list.

Total fat intake refers to the total amount of all fats consumed. Saturated fat intake refers specifically to the amount of saturated fats, which are considered less healthy than unsaturated fats, found in sources like palm oil, butter, and fatty meats.

Unsaturated fats, particularly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, are considered the healthiest. They are found in foods like fish, nuts, and vegetable oils, and they are associated with better cardiovascular health.

Excessive intake of unhealthy fats is linked to increased risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, digestive issues, and impaired brain function.

The WHO recommends that adults limit their total fat intake to less than 30% of their total energy intake. Furthermore, less than 10% should come from saturated fats, and less than 1% from trans fats.

In some cases, yes. Traditional Icelandic diets are rich in fatty fish, which contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. Similarly, Kiribati relies heavily on reef fish. However, the intake of saturated fats from other sources, like palm oil, also impacts overall dietary fat composition in some regions.