World Vision's Price Shocks 2026 report, now in its fifth consecutive year, compares the cost of a basic 10-item food basket with wages across 62 countries. A worker in Ireland needs just 1.2 hours of work to buy it, while in the Central African Republic about 30 days are required. The global average in 2026 is 4.3 workdays, down from 4.9 in 2024, but World Vision warns hunger is worsening in some regions. In the 11 least affordable countries, the basket costs more than a full week's work, with nine of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Many families are eating fewer meals, borrowing money, or selling assets to get by.
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