Global sales of instant noodles have topped 100 billion units annually, more than one monthly serving for every person on the planet.

Instant success 1 China 44 billion 2 Indonesia 14.1 billion 3 Japan 5.41 billion 4 Vietnam 5.06 billion 5 India 4.36 billion 19 Australia 350 million

Five decades after the easy-to-cook food's launch, sales climbed again last year with China, Indonesia and Japan rounding out the world's top three consumers, according to the Japan-based World Instant Noodles Association.

"The results show that instant noodles have become a global standard dish," said Norio Sakurai, an official with the Osaka-based association.

"We think global sales will continue growing particularly in some developing nations."

Of the 101.4 billion units sold worldwide last year, China, including Hong Kong, accounted for 44 billion servings, followed by Indonesia with 14.1 billion units, Japan at 5.4 billion units and Vietnam close behind with 5.1 billion units.

Instant noodles, which come dried or pre-cooked and can be boiled quickly with accompanying flavour packets, were invented in Japan by Momofuku Ando, founder of major noodle maker Nissin Foods, in 1958.

AFP