Number of moderately or severely food insecure female adults (million) (3-year average) — Value by country
The Suite of Food Security Indicators presents the core set of food security indicators. Following the recommendation of experts gathered in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Round Table on hunger measurement, hosted at FAO headquarters in September 2011, an initial set of indicators aiming to capture...
What the numbers show
Number of moderately or severely food insecure female adults (million) (3-year average) — Value is currently reported for 115 countries. The highest value is 52.3 million No in Nigeria; the lowest is 0.1 million No in North Macedonia.
The median across all reporting countries is 1.5 million No, and the mean is 3.76 million No.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 523.
Over the past decade 79 countries rose and 27 fell. The largest increase was in Paraguay (up 250.0%), and the largest decrease in Russian Federation (down 70.7%).
Number of moderately or severely food insecure female adults: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria | 52.3 million No | 2023 | up 190.6% | rising |
| 2 | Ethiopia | 24.3 million No | 2023 | up 41.3% | rising |
| 3 | Pakistan | 21.1 million No | 2023 | up 99.1% | rising |
| 4 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 24.5 million No | 2023 | up 40.0% | rising |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 17.3 million No | 2023 | down 3.9% | flat |
| 5 | Philippines | 14 million No | 2023 | down 6.0% | falling |
| 6 | Kenya | 13.2 million No | 2023 | up 76.0% | rising |
| 6 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 13.1 million No | 2023 | down 10.9% | falling |
| 7 | Egypt | 12.6 million No | 2023 | up 18.9% | rising |
| 7 | United Republic of Tanzania | 11.3 million No | 2023 | up 46.8% | rising |
| 8 | Afghanistan | 10 million No | 2023 | up 132.6% | rising |
| 8 | Viet Nam | 4.3 million No | 2023 | up 65.4% | rising |
| 9 | Brazil | 9.9 million No | 2023 | down 18.9% | rising |
| 9 | Mexico | 9.9 million No | 2023 | down 16.1% | falling |
| 9 | Melanesia | 2.3 million No | 2023 | up 21.1% | rising |
| 10 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 1 million No | 2023 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 11 | Yemen | 9 million No | 2023 | up 104.5% | rising |
| 11 | Republic of Moldova | 0.4 million No | 2023 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 12 | Angola | 8.4 million No | 2023 | up 21.7% | rising |
| 13 | Uganda | 7.5 million No | 2023 | up 17.2% | rising |
| 14 | Myanmar | 6.8 million No | 2023 | up 47.8% | rising |
| 15 | Colombia | 6.5 million No | 2023 | up 71.1% | rising |
| 15 | Ukraine | 6.5 million No | 2023 | up 38.3% | rising |
| 17 | Argentina | 6.3 million No | 2023 | up 65.8% | rising |
| 18 | Madagascar | 5.9 million No | 2023 | up 18.0% | rising |
| 19 | Malawi | 5.5 million No | 2023 | up 44.7% | rising |
| 20 | Cameroon | 5.3 million No | 2023 | up 65.6% | rising |
| 20 | South Africa | 5.3 million No | 2023 | up 26.2% | rising |
| 22 | Peru | 5.1 million No | 2023 | up 41.7% | rising |
| 23 | Ghana | 4.8 million No | 2023 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 24 | Indonesia | 4.5 million No | 2023 | down 21.1% | falling |
| 25 | Nepal | 3.9 million No | 2023 | up 30.0% | rising |
| 26 | Zimbabwe | 3.8 million No | 2023 | up 31.0% | rising |
| 27 | Chad | 3.6 million No | 2023 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 28 | Haiti | 3.5 million No | 2023 | up 9.4% | rising |
| 28 | Niger | 3.5 million No | 2023 | up 29.6% | rising |
| 30 | Guatemala | 3.3 million No | 2023 | up 37.5% | rising |
| 30 | South Sudan | 3.3 million No | 2023 | up 32.0% | rising |
| 32 | Zambia | 3 million No | 2023 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 33 | Burkina Faso | 2.9 million No | 2023 | up 38.1% | rising |
| 34 | Benin | 2.8 million No | 2023 | up 55.6% | rising |
| 35 | Côte d'Ivoire | 3.5 million No | 2023 | up 45.8% | rising |
| 35 | Algeria | 2.7 million No | 2023 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 36 | France | 2.5 million No | 2023 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 36 | Japan | 2.5 million No | 2023 | up 127.3% | rising |
| 36 | Cambodia | 2.5 million No | 2023 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 39 | Sierra Leone | 2.4 million No | 2023 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 40 | Ecuador | 2.3 million No | 2023 | up 76.9% | rising |
| 41 | Australia and New Zealand | 2.1 million No | 2023 | up 40.0% | rising |
| 42 | Spain | 2 million No | 2023 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 42 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 2 million No | 2023 | down 23.1% | falling |
| 44 | Canada | 1.9 million No | 2023 | up 137.5% | rising |
| 44 | Dominican Republic | 1.9 million No | 2023 | down 9.5% | falling |
| 44 | Malaysia | 1.9 million No | 2023 | up 11.8% | rising |
| 47 | Australia | 1.8 million No | 2023 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 48 | Senegal | 1.7 million No | 2023 | up 13.3% | rising |
| 48 | Russian Federation | 1.7 million No | 2023 | down 70.7% | falling |
| 50 | Honduras | 1.6 million No | 2023 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 51 | Germany | 1.5 million No | 2023 | down 11.8% | flat |
| 51 | Togo | 1.5 million No | 2023 | up 15.4% | rising |
| 51 | Thailand | 1.5 million No | 2023 | down 6.2% | flat |
| 54 | Liberia | 1.4 million No | 2023 | up 27.3% | rising |
| 54 | Mali | 1.4 million No | 2023 | unchanged | falling |
| 54 | Romania | 1.4 million No | 2023 | down 26.3% | flat |
| 57 | Chile | 1.3 million No | 2023 | up 44.4% | rising |
| 58 | El Salvador | 1.2 million No | 2023 | up 9.1% | rising |
| 58 | Tunisia | 1.2 million No | 2023 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 60 | Lebanon | 1 million No | 2023 | up 233.3% | rising |
| 60 | Sri Lanka | 1 million No | 2023 | up 150.0% | rising |
| 60 | Mauritania | 1 million No | 2023 | up 233.3% | rising |
| 60 | Republic of Korea | 1 million No | 2023 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 64 | Tajikistan | 0.9 million No | 2023 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 65 | Hungary | 0.8 million No | 2023 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 65 | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | 0.8 million No | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 67 | Libya | 0.7 million No | 2023 | down 12.5% | flat |
| 67 | Portugal | 0.7 million No | 2023 | down 12.5% | falling |
| 67 | Paraguay | 0.7 million No | 2023 | up 250.0% | rising |
| 70 | Azerbaijan | 0.6 million No | 2023 | up 200.0% | rising |
| 70 | Belgium | 0.6 million No | 2023 | up 200.0% | rising |
| 70 | Jamaica | 0.6 million No | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 70 | Namibia | 0.6 million No | 2023 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 70 | Poland | 0.6 million No | 2023 | down 64.7% | falling |
| 75 | Botswana | 0.5 million No | 2023 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 75 | Czechia | 0.5 million No | 2023 | up 66.7% | rising |
| 75 | Lesotho | 0.5 million No | 2023 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 75 | Palestine, State of | 0.5 million No | 2021 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 79 | Albania | 0.4 million No | 2023 | down 20.0% | falling |
| 79 | Georgia | 0.4 million No | 2023 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 79 | Gambia | 0.4 million No | 2023 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 79 | Guinea-Bissau | 0.4 million No | 2021 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 79 | New Zealand | 0.4 million No | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 79 | Sweden | 0.4 million No | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 85 | Bulgaria | 0.3 million No | 2023 | down 40.0% | falling |
| 85 | Costa Rica | 0.3 million No | 2023 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 85 | Finland | 0.3 million No | 2023 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 85 | Greece | 0.3 million No | 2023 | down 62.5% | falling |
| 85 | Israel | 0.3 million No | 2023 | down 25.0% | falling |
| 85 | Singapore | 0.3 million No | 2023 | up 200.0% | rising |
| 85 | Eswatini | 0.3 million No | 2023 | — | rising |
| 85 | Uruguay | 0.3 million No | 2023 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 93 | Austria | 0.2 million No | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 93 | Denmark | 0.2 million No | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 93 | Kyrgyzstan | 0.2 million No | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 93 | Mauritius | 0.2 million No | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 93 | Norway | 0.2 million No | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 93 | Serbia | 0.2 million No | 2023 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 93 | Slovakia | 0.2 million No | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 100 | Armenia | 0.1 million No | 2023 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 100 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0.1 million No | 2023 | down 50.0% | rising |
| 100 | Croatia | 0.1 million No | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 100 | Ireland | 0.1 million No | 2023 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 100 | Kazakhstan | 0.1 million No | 2023 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 100 | Kuwait | 0.1 million No | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 100 | Lithuania | 0.1 million No | 2023 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 100 | North Macedonia | 0.1 million No | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- World 779.3 million No
- Asia 390.5 million No
- Lower-middle-income economies 431.2 million No
- Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 203.2 million No
- Central Asia and Southern Asia 275.9 million No
- Middle Africa 45.8 million No
- Southern Asia 271.4 million No
- Africa 263.8 million No
- Small island developing States (SIDS) 13.3 million No
- Sub-Saharan Africa 232.5 million No
- Low Income Food Deficit Countries (LIFDCs) 180.8 million No
- Upper-middle-income economies 144.2 million No
- Low-income economies 118.3 million No
- Eastern Africa 96.2 million No
- Land Locked Developing Countries (LLDCs) 90.4 million No
- Western Africa 83.5 million No
- Eastern Asia and South-eastern Asia 75.9 million No
- Western Asia and Northern Africa 70 million No
- Latin America and the Caribbean 68.9 million No
- High-income economies 53.7 million No
- Northern America and Europe 51.5 million No
- South America 40.9 million No
- Eastern Asia 38.9 million No
- Western Asia 38.8 million No
- South-Eastern Asia 37 million No
- Europe 31.4 million No
- Northern Africa 31.3 million No
- Northern America 20.1 million No
- Central America 18.5 million No
- United States of America 18.2 million No
- Eastern Europe 12.5 million No
- Caribbean 9.5 million No
- Northern Europe 8.8 million No
- Southern Africa 7.1 million No
- Western Europe 5.5 million No
- Southern Europe 4.6 million No
- Oceania 4.5 million No
- Central Asia 4.5 million No
- Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand 2.4 million No
About this data
The Suite of Food Security Indicators presents the core set of food security indicators. Following the recommendation of experts gathered in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Round Table on hunger measurement, hosted at FAO headquarters in September 2011, an initial set of indicators aiming to capture various aspects of food insecurity is presented here. The choice of the indicators has been informed by expert judgement and the availability of data with sufficient coverage to enable comparisons across regions and over time. Many of these indicators are produced and published elsewhere by FAO and other international organizations. They are reported here in a single database with the aim of building a wide food security information system. More indicators will be added to this set as more data will become available. Indicators are classified along the four dimensions of food security -- availability, access, utilization and stability.