2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in Western Asia
Western Asia: 2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) was 36.6 % in 2025. ▲ Rising
2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in Western Asia, 2014–2025
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in Western Asia stood at 36.6 %.
The figure is down 5.7% on the previous year and up 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in Western Asia peaked at 42.7 % in 2021 and was at its lowest, 30.8 %, in 2014.
Western Asia ranks 9th of 33 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in Western Asia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 30.8 % | — |
| 2015 | 33.1 % | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 31.4 % | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 33.5 % | +6.7% |
| 2018 | 33.3 % | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 33.4 % | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 38.5 % | +15.3% |
| 2021 | 42.7 % | +10.9% |
| 2022 | 39.9 % | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 38.9 % | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 38.8 % | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 36.6 % | -5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 32.58 % | 30.8 % | 33.5 % | 6 |
| 2020s | 39.23 % | 36.6 % | 42.7 % | 6 |
Countries ranked near Western Asia
- 6 Liberia 81.2 % compare
- 7 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 40.5 % compare
- 7 Nigeria 78.6 % compare
- 8 Angola 76 % compare
- 8 Côte d'Ivoire 39.6 % compare
- 8 Lao People's Democratic Republic 37.2 % compare
- 9 Republic of Moldova 30.1 % compare
- 9 Yemen 75.3 % compare
- 10 Cabo Verde 35 % compare
- 10 Zimbabwe 74.3 % compare
- 11 Kenya 73.3 % compare
- 11 Viet Nam 11.2 % compare
- 12 Benin 67.7 % compare
More agriculture & rural data for Western Asia
- Eggs Primary — Laying, annual growth rate -3.44 % change on previous year (2024)
- Milk, Total — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth rate 5.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Meat, Total — Production, annual growth rate -3.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Meat, Poultry — Producing Animals/Slaughtered, annual growth rate 3.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Meat, Poultry — Production, annual growth rate 0.8829 % change on previous year (2024)
- Meat, Poultry — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth rate -2.33 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fruit Primary — Production, annual growth rate -3.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fruit Primary — Yield, annual growth rate -5.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fruit Primary — Area harvested, annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Yield, annual growth rate -6.41 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in Western Asia?
- 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in Western Asia was 36.6 % in 2025, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) recorded in Western Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 42.7 % in 2021.
- What is the lowest 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) recorded in Western Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.8 % in 2014.
- How does Western Asia rank for 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or)?
- Western Asia ranks 9th out of 33 groups with data for 2025.
- Is 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) rising or falling in Western Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of 2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or no breakdown by sex) (all age ranges or no breakdown by age) (no breakdown by urbanisation) — 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.