2.1.2 Number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both) in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: 2.1.2 Number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both) was 18,766 1000 No in 2025. ▲ Rising
2.1.2 Number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both) in Southern Africa, 2014–2025
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in 1000 No.
Analysis
Southern Africa recorded 18,766 1000 No for 2.1.2 number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 29.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.1.2 number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both) in Southern Africa peaked at 19,790 1000 No in 2023 and was at its lowest, 14,039 1000 No, in 2014.
That places Southern Africa 25th out of 33 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
2.1.2 Number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both) in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | 1000 No | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 14,039 1000 No | — |
| 2015 | 14,472 1000 No | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 14,766 1000 No | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 15,021 1000 No | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 15,130 1000 No | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 15,518 1000 No | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 17,508 1000 No | +12.8% |
| 2021 | 17,788 1000 No | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 16,867 1000 No | -5.2% |
| 2023 | 19,790 1000 No | +17.3% |
| 2024 | 19,129 1000 No | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 18,766 1000 No | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 14,824 1000 No | 14,039 1000 No | 15,518 1000 No | 6 |
| 2020s | 18,308 1000 No | 16,867 1000 No | 19,790 1000 No | 6 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
More agriculture & rural data for Southern Africa
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- Eggs Primary — Laying, annual growth rate 0.0881 % change on previous year (2024)
- Eggs Primary — Production, annual growth rate -9.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Eggs Primary — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth rate -9.64 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Production, annual growth rate 1.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Yield, annual growth rate 1.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Area harvested, annual growth rate -0.2717 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Production, annual growth rate -19.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth 6.41 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Production, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.1.2 number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both) in Southern Africa?
- 2.1.2 number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both) in Southern Africa was 18,766 1000 No in 2025, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 2.1.2 number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both) recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 19,790 1000 No in 2023.
- What is the lowest 2.1.2 number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both) recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,039 1000 No in 2014.
- How does Southern Africa rank for 2.1.2 number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both)?
- Southern Africa ranks 25th out of 33 groups with data for 2025.
- Is 2.1.2 number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both) rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of 2.1.2 Number of moderately or severely food insecure people (both sexes or no breakdown by sex) (all age ranges or no breakdown by age) — Confidence interval: Upper bound. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
As the custodian agency of 22 SDG indicators, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is responsible for curating and refining the methodologies of these indicators, collecting data from national sources, ensuring their quality and compatibility with applicable standards and classifications, and disseminating data at global level. This FAOSTAT domain complements the global SDG database administered by the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), as well as FAO’s SDG indicators portal, by providing access to the available data for all SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship. While this metadata page provides summary information on all SDG indicators data disseminated through FAOSTAT, indicator-specific metadata can be accessed from the link on the right hand navigation column. This additional metadata file provides details on the methodology used to compile each indicators, their data sources and the contact information of the relevant FAO focal point. It includes the links to the official SDG Indicator metadata documents accessible from the UNSD global SDG database.SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship, consisting of 22 indicators and 66 series that fall under six goals: • Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.• Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.• Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production.• Goal 14: Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.• Goal 15: Life on land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.