PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- An estimated 1 billion in 113 countries reported not being able to afford food in 2009 -- a disproportionate portion in sub-Saharan Africa, a survey indicates.
Gallup surveys in 113 countries indicate a median of 26 percent of adults reported struggling at times last year to afford food for themselves or their families.
This was highest in sub-Saharan Africa -- at least 4 in 10 adults in every country surveyed in this region, with the exception of Djibouti, struggled to afford food.
Thirteen percent in Europe said they could not afford food at some time in 2009, while 15 percent couldn't afford food in the Middle East and North Africa, the surveys indicated.
However, in some countries the numbers were much higher -- 45 percent in Yemen said they could not afford food, 42 percent in the Palestinian Territories, 40 percent in Romania, 37 percent in Turkey and 30 percent in Albania.
The survey results were based on telephone/face-to-face interviews with approximately 1,000 adults in 110 countries -- 2,000 adults in Russia, 3,000 adults in India and 4,200 in China -- ages 15 and older, during 2009.
The margin of error ranges from 2.1 percentage points in China to 5.7 percentage points in Slovenia.
