Sodium Intake Guidelines by Country and Where Salt Hides in Food
Sodium and salt intake figures from the WHO, US, UK, EU and Canada with source and year, how to convert salt to sodium, and which everyday foods and labels carry hidden salt.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Quick answer
There is no single worldwide number. Health bodies publish different figures for different purposes, so always check who the figure is for, what it measures (sodium or salt) and which year. Sodium is the part of salt that matters for blood pressure. Most adult populations eat more than these figures, and sodium deficiency from food is described by WHO as extremely unlikely in healthy people. [1] If you have kidney disease, heart failure or cirrhosis, your own limit may be lower and should come from your clinician or dietitian. [2]
Salt versus sodium
Table salt is sodium chloride and is 40% sodium. [2] WHO gives the conversion: 1 g of salt equals 400 mg of sodium, so 5 g of salt equals 2,000 mg of sodium. [1] The NHS gives the same relationship in grams: 6 g of salt is 2.4 g of sodium. [3] MedlinePlus says one teaspoon (5 mL) of table salt holds about 2,300 mg of sodium. [2] Food labels may show sodium, not salt, so check the unit before comparing.Official figures
Every row below is for generally healthy adults unless stated.| Body, country or region | Figure | What it means | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHO, adults | Less than 2,000 mg sodium (under 5 g salt) a day [1] | A recommended upper level | Page dated 2026 |
| NHS, UK, adults | No more than 6 g salt (2.4 g sodium) a day [3] | Maximum advised; UK adults eat about 8 g on average | Page reviewed 2020 |
| US, Dietary Guidelines (as quoted by NIDDK) | No more than 2,300 mg sodium a day [4] | A limit; MedlinePlus adds 1,500 mg a day for adults with high blood pressure [2] | 2020-2025 guidelines |
| US/Canada reference values (as shown by Health Canada) | Adequate Intake 1,500 mg a day for ages 14 and over; Chronic Disease Risk Reduction level 2,300 mg [5] | The CDRR is the level above which cutting intake is expected to reduce chronic disease risk [5] | Table dated 2025 |
| EFSA, EU, adults | 2.0 g sodium a day is a safe and adequate intake; the same value applies in pregnancy and breastfeeding [6] | Not a requirement figure: data were not sufficient to set an average requirement or population reference intake [6] | 2019 |
| EFSA, EU, children | 1.1 g (1-3 years), 1.3 g (4-6), 1.7 g (7-10), 2.0 g (11-17) a day [6] | Extrapolated from the adult value | 2019 |
| US food label | Daily Value for sodium is 2,300 mg [7] | A label yardstick, not a personal target | FDA label page read 2026 |
MedlinePlus also lists Adequate Intakes for children by age; for example 1,000 mg a day for ages 4 to 8 and 1,500 mg for ages 14 to 18. [2] Figures from different bodies are not interchangeable, so compare the population, unit and year before putting two numbers side by side.
How much people eat, and why it matters
WHO estimates the global mean adult intake was 4,278 mg of sodium a day (11 g of salt) in 2021, more than double its recommendation. [1] EFSA notes that average intakes in European adults exceed its safe and adequate level. [6] A meta-analysis of 133 trials in 12,197 adults found each 50 mmol drop in 24-hour sodium excretion lowered systolic blood pressure by 1.10 mm Hg, with larger drops in older people and those with higher starting pressure. [8]Where salt hides
NIDDK says much of the sodium Americans eat comes from packaged, prepared and restaurant foods, not the saltshaker, and that even foods that do not taste salty can be high. [4] Examples named by the sources:- Canned foods, some frozen foods, most processed meats, chips and crackers, ketchup, mustard, and barbecue, soy and teriyaki sauces. [4]
- Bacon, sausage and ham, canned soups, packaged baked goods, fast food, and bouillon cubes. [2]
- Ready meals, cheese, some breakfast cereals, some bread and tinned vegetables with added salt (NHS). [3]
- Added forms of sodium other than table salt, such as monosodium glutamate, baking soda and sodium benzoate. [2]
Reading labels
On a US Nutrition Facts label, a %Daily Value of 5% or less per serving is low in sodium and 20% or more is high. [4] The NHS suggests choosing tinned vegetables and pulses with no added salt and tasting food before adding salt. [3]Frequently asked questions
How much sodium is 5 g of salt?
WHO's conversion gives 2,000 mg of sodium. [1]
Is the US limit the same as the WHO limit?
No. The US Dietary Guidelines limit is 2,300 mg of sodium a day, quoted by NIDDK, while WHO recommends under 2,000 mg. [4] [1]
Where does most of the sodium in the US diet come from?
NIDDK says much of it comes from packaged, prepared and restaurant foods rather than the saltshaker. [4]
Do babies and children have different figures?
Yes. MedlinePlus lists adequate intakes by age, from 110 mg a day for infants under 6 months to 1,500 mg for ages 14 to 18. [2]
Should I cut salt if I have kidney disease or heart failure?
Your limit may be lower than for healthy adults, so ask your clinician or dietitian for your own number. [2]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Cautions
This page does not recommend salt tablets. Low blood sodium has several causes that need a diagnosis (see hyponatremia). [9] The UK Department of Health and Social Care advises people to cut down on salt and says sodium chloride should not be used in supplements. [3] Potassium-based salt substitutes are covered at salt substitutes. For other electrolytes see sodium and chloride.
References
- World Health Organization. Page dated 11 May 2026. WHO, Sodium reduction (fact sheet). Read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine). Review date 4/30/2026. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Sodium in diet. Read 2026-10-23.
- NHS (UK). Page last reviewed 3 August 2020. NHS, Vitamins and minerals: Others (magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, salt). Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (US NIH). Last reviewed January 2025. NIDDK, Healthy Eating for Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease. Read 2026-10-23.
- Health Canada. Table page details dated 2025-11-19. Dietary reference intakes tables: Reference values for elements. Read 2026-10-23 through a web-fetch tool.
- EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens. EFSA Journal 2019. Dietary reference values for sodium. Read 2026-10-23.
- US Food and Drug Administration. FDA, Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels. Read 2026-10-23.
- Effect of dose and duration of reduction in dietary sodium on blood pressure levels: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials. BMJ 2020. PubMed 32094151. Read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine). Review date 5/19/2025. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Low blood sodium. Read 2026-10-23.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.