Shannon diversity index

Definition

The Shannon diversity index reflects how many different types of foods (crops and livestock) are produced in a certain country, and how evenly these different types are distributed. This indicator identifies the diversity of crops in a country without regard for the nutrient content of each crop. The indicator is scaled from 0 to 1, with 0 representing no diversity and 1 representing the maximum amount of diversity observed.

Relevance

In low-income countries, production of more diverse foods contributes to more diverse food availability in national food environments. In middle-income and high-income countries, international trade and income are stronger predictors than national production.