Population in severe food insecurity in South America
South America: Population in severe food insecurity was 18,403 num th in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population in severe food insecurity in South America, 2014–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in num th.
Analysis
South America recorded 18,403 num th for population in severe food insecurity in 2025.
The figure is down 12.2% on the previous year and up 54.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in severe food insecurity in South America peaked at 45,970 num th in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11,912 num th, in 2015.
That places South America 19th out of 35 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Population in severe food insecurity in South America, year by year
| Year | num th | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 12,979 num th | — |
| 2015 | 11,912 num th | -8.2% |
| 2016 | 21,151 num th | +77.6% |
| 2017 | 24,184 num th | +14.3% |
| 2018 | 22,519 num th | -6.9% |
| 2019 | 23,310 num th | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 37,288 num th | +60.0% |
| 2021 | 45,970 num th | +23.3% |
| 2022 | 36,888 num th | -19.8% |
| 2023 | 23,201 num th | -37.1% |
| 2024 | 20,963 num th | -9.6% |
| 2025 | 18,403 num th | -12.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 19,343 num th | 11,912 num th | 24,184 num th | 6 |
| 2020s | 30,452 num th | 18,403 num th | 45,970 num th | 6 |
Countries ranked near South America
More agriculture & rural data for South America
- Milk, Total — Milk Animals, annual growth rate -1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fruit Primary — Area harvested, annual growth rate 1.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fruit Primary — Yield, annual growth rate -1.82 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fruit Primary — Production, annual growth rate -0.6854 % change on previous year (2024)
- Meat, Poultry — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth rate -0.1374 % change on previous year (2024)
- Meat, Poultry — Production, annual growth rate 2.85 % change on previous year (2024)
- Meat, Poultry — Producing Animals/Slaughtered, annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2024)
- Meat, Total — Production, annual growth rate 4.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Milk, Total — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2024)
- Milk, Total — Production, annual growth rate 0.4274 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in severe food insecurity in South America?
- Population in severe food insecurity in South America was 18,403 num th in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest population in severe food insecurity recorded in South America?
- The highest recorded value was 45,970 num th in 2021.
- What is the lowest population in severe food insecurity recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,912 num th in 2015.
- How does South America rank for population in severe food insecurity?
- South America ranks 19th out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population in severe food insecurity rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South America 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 — 12 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).