Population in severe food insecurity in South Africa
South Africa: Population in severe food insecurity was 5,376 num th in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
5,376 num th
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
15th
of 106 countries
All-time high
5,376 num th
in 2024
All-time low
4,070 num th
in 2018
Years of data
7
2018–2024
Population in severe food insecurity in South Africa, 2018–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in num th.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 5,376 num th for population in severe food insecurity in 2024. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 32.1% over ten years.
That places South Africa 15th out of 106 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Population in severe food insecurity in South Africa, year by year
| Year | num th | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4,070 num th | — |
| 2019 | 4,441 num th | +9.1% |
| 2020 | 4,816 num th | +8.5% |
| 2021 | 5,157 num th | +7.1% |
| 2022 | 5,260 num th | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 5,310 num th | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 5,376 num th | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4,255 num th | 4,070 num th | 4,441 num th | 2 |
| 2020s | 5,184 num th | 4,816 num th | 5,376 num th | 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 population in severe food insecurity in South Africa?
- Population in severe food insecurity in South Africa was 5,376 num th in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest population in severe food insecurity recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5,376 num th in 2024.
- What is the lowest population in severe food insecurity recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,070 num th in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for population in severe food insecurity?
- South Africa ranks 15th out of 106 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population in severe food insecurity rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Population in severe food insecurity (thousands of people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).