Top 5% in rural India consume nearly double the animal protein of bottom 5%

Indian Express

2 days ago

A report by the Ministry of Statistics titled 'Nutritional Intake in India (2022–23 & 2023–24)' indicates that as Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure (MPCE) — the average monthly spending per person in a household— goes up, so does the reliance on eggs, fish, and meat as sources of protein. This pattern is especially pronounced in rural India, where dietary habits are more sensitive to income levels.
Among the poorest 5% of the rural population based on MPCE fractile classes, just 9% of their total protein intake comes from animal-based sources like eggs, fish, and meat. In contrast, the richest 5% in rural areas derive 17.1% of their protein from these non-vegetarian items, almost double the share seen among the poorest.
In urban India, however, the gap is narrower. The lowest MPCE group in urban areas gets 11.2% of their protein from animal sources, compared to 13.8% among the highest MPCE group. While income still influences dietary patterns in cities, the difference in protein source preferences is less stark than in rural regions.
MPCE represents the average monthly spending per person within a household. It is widely used in National Sample Survey (NSS) reports serving as a key indicator of household consumption patterns and is often used as a proxy for assessing living standards and poverty levels.
To analyse consumption distribution across the population, MPCE data is divided into fractile classes statistical groupings that split the population into equal segments based on their expenditure levels.
According to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023–24, the bottom 5% of India's rural population ranked by MPCE has an average monthly per capita expenditure of Rs 1,677, compared to Rs 2,376 among the bottom 5% in urban areas. In stark contrast, the top 5% of the population spends significantly more: Rs 10,137 in rural India and Rs 20,310 in urban India.
The report highlights a shift in the sources of protein intake as MPCE levels rise. As incomes increase, the reliance on cereals as a primary source of protein declines significantly.
In rural India, the share of protein derived from cereals drops from 56% among the bottom 5% of the population by MPCE to 33.8% among the top 5%. A similar trend is observed in urban India, where the contribution of cereals to protein intake falls from 51.9% in the lowest MPCE fractile to 24% in the highest.
This decline is offset by an increased contribution from other food groups as MPCE levels rise. The most notable increase is seen in the share of milk and milk products, which rises from 5.5% to 14.6% in rural areas and from 7.8% to 14.6% in urban areas across the same MPCE range.
The Nutritional Intake in India (2022-23 & 2023-24) survey covered a nationally representative sample of 2.61 lakh households across 8,684 villages and 6,143 urban blocks, providing insights into changing dietary patterns across income groups.
The average daily per capita calorie intake in India stands at 2,212 kilocalories (Kcal) in rural areas and 2,240 Kcal in urban areas. However, calorie consumption is closely linked to MPCE and shows a monotonically increasing trend across MPCE class that is, calorie intake consistently rises with higher expenditure levels.
The gap between the lowest and highest MPCE fractiles is particularly stark. In rural India, individuals in the bottom 5% of the population by MPCE consume an average of just 1,688 Kcal per day, while those in the top 5% consume 2,941 Kcal, a difference of over 1,250 Kcal. The pattern is similar in urban areas, where average daily calorie intake increases from 1,696 Kcal in the bottom 5% to 3,092 Kcal in the top 5%.