The World’s Only Fully Self-Sufficient Country

In times of geopolitical uncertainty and fragile supply chains, a pressing question arises: Can countries feed themselves without relying on global trade? A recent international study offers sobering insights – and names a surprising frontrunner.

Guyana: The Quiet Food Champion

According to a new study by the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with the University of Göttingen, Guyana is currently the only country in the world capable of completely feeding its population across all seven key food groups necessary for a healthy diet. These include fruits, vegetables, dairy products, fish, meat, starchy foods, legumes, as well as nuts and seeds.

The small South American nation, with a population of just over 800,000, benefits from fertile soil, rich fishing grounds, and a favorable climate – proving that self-sufficiency is not a matter of size, but of conditions.

Global Dependence – Even Among Industrialized Nations

China and Vietnam come in second and third in the self-sufficiency ranking, each managing to cover six out of the seven essential food categories. Germany only achieves self-sufficiency in three: dairy, meat, and starchy products.

At the bottom of the list are countries such as Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen – none of which can produce sufficient amounts of any of the seven food groups. Even economic blocs like the Gulf Cooperation Council or the European Union cannot meet their population’s needs without imports – particularly when it comes to vegetables.

Why Food Self-Sufficiency Often Fails

The reasons behind global dependence on food imports are complex: climatic limitations, lack of arable land, political instability, and in some cases, deliberately created economic dependencies.

Protectionist trade policies – like those seen in the United States – can make matters worse. When nations are not food self-sufficient, import tariffs and trade restrictions can drive up food prices. The consequences: growing social inequality, reduced life expectancy, and increasing economic instability.

Photo: Unsplash / by Megan Thomas