---
title: "Food Expenditure Share (FES)"
slug: "food-expenditure-share"
updated: 2026-06-30T09:20:53Z
published: 2026-06-30T09:20:53Z
canonical: "vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/food-expenditure-share"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Food Expenditure Share (FES)

The Food Expenditure Share (FES) is a key indicator used by WFP to assess household economic vulnerability and potential food insecurity. It represents the proportion of a household’s total consumption expenditure that is spent on food - including purchases, in-kind assistance, and own production. A high FES suggests that a household allocates most of its resources to food, leaving limited flexibility for other essential needs like health, education, or housing, and is therefore more vulnerable to shocks such as rising food prices.

The FES is calculated by dividing monthly food expenditure by total monthly expenditure and is used within the CARI framework to classify households into four categories: low, medium, high, and very high vulnerability.

While it is a useful proxy for financial access to food, FES has limitations—such as being sensitive to in-kind assistance and household size—and should be interpreted alongside other indicators like the Food Consumption Score (FCS) and Livelihood Coping Strategies (LCS) for a more comprehensive understanding of food security.

**Available Resources**

Please find below some resources to help you collect, calculate, and analyze the FES:

**Technical Guidance Note**

Read the [detailed guidance document](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000161494/download/) for accurate implementation, data collection, and analysis steps for FES.

**Questionnaire Modules**

Download the [standard questionnaire modules](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000134275/download/) in Word format.

**XLS Form**

Access the [XLS form](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000134243/download/) of the FES module, designed in [WFP Survey Designer](https://surveydesigner.vam.wfp.org/). This can be converted to ODK form for consistent data collection across mobile and web platforms.

**Scripts and Sample Data**

Calculation scripts are available in the following formats:

- [SPSS](https://github.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/blob/main/Indicators/Food-expenditure-share/FES.sps)
- [STATA](https://github.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/blob/main/Indicators/Food-expenditure-share/FES%20updated%20Oct%202025.do)
- [R](https://github.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/blob/main/Indicators/Food-expenditure-share/FES.R)

Furthermore, check out the [cleaning syntax](https://github.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/blob/main/StatisticalCleaning/Expenditures/Expenditure_cleaning.sps) developed to automate expenditure data cleaning process.

The [sample data](https://github.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/blob/main/Static/Expcleaning_Sample_Raw.csv) is also available on [GitHub](https://github.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/tree/main/Indicators/Food-expenditure-share) for training and analysis.

**Training Presentation**

A training presentation on FES for use by enumerators and VAM staff, is available in the following languages:

- [English](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000161496/download/)
- [French](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000166068/download/)
- [Arabic](https://api.godocs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000171596/download/)

Another [presentation](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000145601/download/) is available that explains the modules and submodules of FES.

**Additional Resources**

- The [Data Quality Guidance](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000161492/download/) provides practical steps to maintain data quality across all phases of evidence generation cycle
- For more context, refer to the [CARI guidance document](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000134704/download/) which provides detailed information about how the indicator integrates with food security analysis frameworks.

For more information, please contact the Assessments and Targeting Unit in HQ VAM at [global.assessmentandtargeting@wfp.org](mailto:global.assessmentandtargeting@wfp.org).