Number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) in South America

South America: Number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) was 20.9 million No in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
20.9 million No
Change on year
down 22.6%
Rank
19th
of 36 groups
All-time high
40 million No
in 2020
All-time low
15.3 million No
in 2014
Years of data
10
2014–2023

Number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) in South America, 2014–2023

0102030402014201820232014: 15.3 million No2015: 19.1 million No2016: 22.6 million No2017: 23.3 million No2018: 27.7 million No2019: 35.5 million No2020: 40 million No2021: 35.4 million No2022: 27 million No2023: 20.9 million No

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in million No.

Analysis

The most recent figure for number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) in South America is 20.9 million No, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 22.6% on the previous year and up 36.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) in South America peaked at 40 million No in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.3 million No, in 2014.

South America ranks 19th of 36 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) in South America, year by year

Annual values for Number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) — Value in South America, 2014 to 2023.
Year million No Change
2014 15.3 million No
2015 19.1 million No +24.8%
2016 22.6 million No +18.3%
2017 23.3 million No +3.1%
2018 27.7 million No +18.9%
2019 35.5 million No +28.2%
2020 40 million No +12.7%
2021 35.4 million No -11.5%
2022 27 million No -23.7%
2023 20.9 million No -22.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 23.92 million No 15.3 million No 35.5 million No 6
2020s 30.82 million No 20.9 million No 40 million No 4

Countries ranked near South America

  1. 16 Argentina 5 million No compare
  2. 17 Myanmar 4.3 million No compare
  3. 18 Zimbabwe 4.2 million No compare
  4. 19 Guatemala 4.1 million No compare
  5. 20 Zambia 3.7 million No compare
  6. 21 Nepal 3.6 million No compare
  7. 21 Philippines 3.6 million No compare

See the full ranking of 137 places →

More agriculture & rural data for South America

All data for South America →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) in South America?
Number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) in South America was 20.9 million No in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) recorded in South America?
The highest recorded value was 40 million No in 2020.
What is the lowest number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) recorded in South America?
The lowest recorded value was 15.3 million No in 2014.
How does South America rank for number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average)?
South America ranks 19th out of 36 groups with data for 2023.
Is number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) rising or falling in South America?
Over the last ten years it is up 36.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South America data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) in South America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-severely-food-insecure-people-million-3-year-average-value/south-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of severely food insecure people (million) (3-year average) — Value
Unit
million No
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
137 places, 1,251 data points, 2014–2023
Last refreshed

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.