2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over) in Western Asia and Northern Africa
Western Asia and Northern Africa: 2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over) was 13.1 % in 2024. ▲ Rising
2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over) in Western Asia and Northern Africa, 2015–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over) in Western Asia and Northern Africa is 13.1 %, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and up 29.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over) in Western Asia and Northern Africa peaked at 13.5 % in 2023 and was at its lowest, 10.1 %, in 2015.
That places Western Asia and Northern Africa 14th out of 37 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over) in Western Asia and Northern Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 10.1 % | — |
| 2016 | 10.4 % | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 10.7 % | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 10.4 % | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 10.6 % | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 11.4 % | +7.5% |
| 2021 | 12.7 % | +11.4% |
| 2022 | 13.2 % | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 13.5 % | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 13.1 % | -3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 10.44 % | 10.1 % | 10.7 % | 5 |
| 2020s | 12.78 % | 11.4 % | 13.5 % | 5 |
Countries ranked near Western Asia and Northern Africa
More agriculture & rural data for Western Asia and Northern Africa
- Minimum dietary energy requirement (kcal/cap/day) — Value 1,828 kcal/cap/d (2025)
- Average dietary energy requirement (kcal/cap/day) — Value 2,365 kcal/cap/d (2025)
- Per capita food supply variability (kcal/cap/day) — Value 25 kcal/cap/d (2025)
- Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) 31.6 % (2024)
- Percentage of children under 5 years of age who are overweight 7.4 % (2024)
- Percentage of children under 5 years of age who are stunted (modelled) 18.1 % (2024)
- Gross domestic product per capita, PPP, (constant 2021 international) 23,360 Int$/cap (2024)
- Percentage of population using at least basic sanitation services 91 % (2024)
- Number of obese adults (18 years and older) (million) — Value 119 million No (2024)
- Dietary energy supply used in the estimation of the prevalence of 3,028 kcal/cap/d (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over) in Western Asia and Northern Africa?
- 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over) in Western Asia and Northern Africa was 13.1 % in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over) recorded in Western Asia and Northern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13.5 % in 2023.
- What is the lowest 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over) recorded in Western Asia and Northern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.1 % in 2015.
- How does Western Asia and Northern Africa rank for 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over)?
- Western Asia and Northern Africa ranks 14th out of 37 groups with data for 2024.
- Is 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over) rising or falling in Western Asia and Northern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western Asia and Northern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of 2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (15 years old and over) (no breakdown by urbanisation) — Value — Female — All age ranges or no breakdown by age — National. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The Suite of Gender Indicators presents a set of indicators relevant to agrifood systems that are disaggregated by sex, with the aim of highlighting gender differences across agrifood systems. The initial set of indicators is based on those used in FAO’s 2023 Status of Women in Agrifood Systems (SWAFS) report and on the recommendations of an expert consultation held in December 2023, and covers key dimensions including economic participation, governance, agency, social norms, assets and services, education, health, and nutrition. Indicator selection was informed by expert judgment and by the availability of data with sufficient geographic and temporal coverage to enable meaningful comparisons across regions and over time. While most indicators are produced and published by FAO and other international organizations, the objective of this domain is to provide a one-stop shop for sex-disaggregated data on agrifood systems.