From 2020 to 2022, global spending on school meals increased by $5 billion, from $43 billion to $48 billion. Today, about 41 percent of primary school children worldwide benefit from free or subsidized daily school meals, with this figure rising to 61 percent in high-income countries.
Overall, approximately 41 percent of children enrolled in primary school benefit from school meal programmes globally. Unfortunately, coverage remains lowest in low-income countries where only 18 percent of children receive a daily, nutritious meal in school.
Source: School Meals Coalition