2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Zambia
Zambia: 2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) was 16.9 % in 2024. ▼ Falling
2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Zambia, 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 (female) (15 years old and) in Zambia is 16.9 %, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 3.7% on the previous year and down 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Zambia peaked at 23.5 % in 2018 and was at its lowest, 16.3 %, in 2023.
That places Zambia 18th out of 104 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 20.9 % | — |
| 2016 | 22.4 % | +7.2% |
| 2017 | 22.7 % | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 23.5 % | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 20.7 % | -11.9% |
| 2020 | 20.6 % | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 17.9 % | -13.1% |
| 2022 | 17.5 % | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 16.3 % | -6.9% |
| 2024 | 16.9 % | +3.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 16.9 % is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.8 %, 1.4× the median. (27 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 16.9 % is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.1 %, 1.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 22.04 % | 20.7 % | 23.5 % | 5 |
| 2020s | 17.84 % | 16.3 % | 20.6 % | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 15 Cameroon 20.8 % compare
- 16 Côte d'Ivoire 7.1 % compare
- 16 Guatemala 20 % compare
- 17 Botswana 19.4 % compare
- 19 Cabo Verde 5.1 % compare
- 19 Dominican Republic 16.7 % compare
- 20 Angola 16.4 % compare
- 21 Madagascar 15.8 % compare
More agriculture & rural data for Zambia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 65.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0411 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 54.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5408 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 4.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 4.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Zambia?
- 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Zambia was 16.9 % in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.5 % in 2018.
- What is the lowest 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.3 % in 2023.
- How does Zambia rank for 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and)?
- Zambia ranks 18th out of 104 countries with data for 2024.
- Is 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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 (female) (15 years old and over) (no breakdown by urbanisation) — Confidence interval: Lower 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.