Population in severe food insecurity in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Population in severe food insecurity was 7,558 num th in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population in severe food insecurity in Southern Africa, 2014–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in num th.
Analysis
In 2025, population in severe food insecurity in Southern Africa stood at 7,558 num th.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 29.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in severe food insecurity in Southern Africa peaked at 7,805 num th in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5,691 num th, in 2014.
Southern Africa ranks 26th of 35 groups on this measure, 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 Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | num th | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 5,691 num th | — |
| 2015 | 5,856 num th | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 6,029 num th | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 6,196 num th | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 6,183 num th | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 6,259 num th | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 7,404 num th | +18.3% |
| 2021 | 7,534 num th | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 7,555 num th | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 7,805 num th | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 7,498 num th | -3.9% |
| 2025 | 7,558 num th | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6,036 num th | 5,691 num th | 6,259 num th | 6 |
| 2020s | 7,559 num th | 7,404 num th | 7,805 num th | 6 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
More agriculture & rural data for Southern Africa
- Oilcrops, Oil Equivalent — Production, annual growth rate -20.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Roots and Tubers, Total — Area harvested, annual growth rate 1.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Pulses, Total — Production, annual growth rate 6.71 % change on previous year (2024)
- Pulses, Total — Yield, annual growth rate 0.0239 % change on previous year (2024)
- Pulses, Total — Area harvested, annual growth rate 6.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Poultry Birds — Stocks, annual growth rate -0.0684 % change on previous year (2024)
- Oilcrops, Oil Equivalent — Area harvested, annual growth rate 0.684 % change on previous year (2024)
- Oilcrops, Cake Equivalent — Yield, annual growth rate -27.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Oilcrops, Cake Equivalent — Production, annual growth rate -27.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Roots and Tubers, Total — Yield, annual growth rate 4.35 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in severe food insecurity in Southern Africa?
- Population in severe food insecurity in Southern Africa was 7,558 num th in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest population in severe food insecurity recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7,805 num th in 2023.
- What is the lowest population in severe food insecurity recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,691 num th in 2014.
- How does Southern Africa rank for population in severe food insecurity?
- Southern Africa ranks 26th out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population in severe food insecurity rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern 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 — 12 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).