2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (both sexes or no) in Western Africa
Western Africa: 2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (both sexes or no) was 20.5 % in 2025. ▲ Rising
2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (both sexes or no) in Western Africa, 2014–2025
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (both sexes or no) in Western Africa stood at 20.5 %.
The figure is down 2.4% on the previous year and up 79.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (both sexes or no) in Western Africa peaked at 21 % in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10.5 %, in 2014.
Western Africa ranks 6th 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 severe food insecurity (both sexes or no) in Western Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 10.5 % | — |
| 2015 | 11.4 % | +8.6% |
| 2016 | 12.8 % | +12.3% |
| 2017 | 14.4 % | +12.5% |
| 2018 | 15 % | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 15.7 % | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 17.9 % | +14.0% |
| 2021 | 17.9 % | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 18.1 % | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 19.6 % | +8.3% |
| 2024 | 21 % | +7.1% |
| 2025 | 20.5 % | -2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13.3 % | 10.5 % | 15.7 % | 6 |
| 2020s | 19.17 % | 17.9 % | 21 % | 6 |
Countries ranked near Western Africa
- 3 Haiti 48.7 % compare
- 3 Melanesia 26.2 % compare
- 4 Liberia 38.1 % compare
- 4 United Republic of Tanzania 24.7 % compare
- 5 Afghanistan 36.3 % compare
- 6 Sierra Leone 36 % compare
- 7 Jamaica 30.9 % compare
- 8 Namibia 30.1 % compare
- 8 Republic of Moldova 7.9 % compare
- 9 Lao People's Democratic Republic 6.9 % compare
- 9 Zimbabwe 29.1 % compare
More agriculture & rural data for Western Africa
- Other fruits, n.e.c. — Production, annual growth rate 1.91 % change on previous year (2024)
- Onions and shallots, dry (excluding dehydrated) — Yield, annual 4.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Onions and shallots, dry (excluding dehydrated) — Production, annual 6.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other fruits, n.e.c. — Area harvested, annual growth rate 1.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other fruits, n.e.c. — Yield, annual growth rate 0.041 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. — Yield, annual growth rate 0.7808 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Production, annual growth rate -0.7481 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. — Production, annual growth rate -1.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Onions and shallots, dry (excluding dehydrated) — Area harvested 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. — Area harvested, annual growth rate -2.22 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (both sexes or no) in Western Africa?
- 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (both sexes or no) in Western Africa was 20.5 % in 2025, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (both sexes or no) recorded in Western Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21 % in 2024.
- What is the lowest 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (both sexes or no) recorded in Western Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5 % in 2014.
- How does Western Africa rank for 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (both sexes or no)?
- Western Africa ranks 6th out of 33 groups with data for 2025.
- Is 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (both sexes or no) rising or falling in Western Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 79.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western 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 (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.