2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (male) (15 years old and) in South Africa
South Africa: 2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (male) (15 years old and) was 7.4 % in 2024. ▲ Rising
2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (male) (15 years old and) in South Africa, 2018–2024
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 (male) (15 years old and) in South Africa is 7.4 %, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and up 37.0% over ten years.
That places South Africa 35th out of 105 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (male) (15 years old and) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 5.4 % | — |
| 2019 | 5.9 % | +9.3% |
| 2020 | 6.3 % | +6.8% |
| 2021 | 7 % | +11.1% |
| 2022 | 7.2 % | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 7.5 % | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 7.4 % | -1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.4 % is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.75 %, 2.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.4 % is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15.15 %, 49% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5.65 % | 5.4 % | 5.9 % | 2 |
| 2020s | 7.08 % | 6.3 % | 7.5 % | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (male) (15 years old and) in South Africa?
- 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (male) (15 years old and) in South Africa was 7.4 % in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (male) (15 years old and) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.5 % in 2023.
- What is the lowest 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (male) (15 years old and) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4 % in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (male) (15 years old and)?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 105 countries with data for 2024.
- Is 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (male) (15 years old and) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South 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 (male) (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.