Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa
Africa: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population was 56.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa, 2014–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa is 56.6%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 3.2% on the previous year and up 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa peaked at 58.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 44.4%, in 2014.
That places Africa 5th out of 35 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 44.4% | — |
| 2015 | 45.0% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 49.2% | +9.3% |
| 2017 | 50.7% | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 50.6% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 51.1% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 53.9% | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 57.0% | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 57.0% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 57.1% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 58.5% | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 56.6% | -3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 48.5% | 44.4% | 51.1% | 6 |
| 2020s | 56.7% | 53.9% | 58.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa
- 2 Sierra Leone 88.1% compare
- 3 Haiti 83.5% compare
- 4 Democratic Republic of the Congo 81.7% compare
- 5 Malawi 81.6% compare
- 6 Liberia 79.0% compare
- 7 Afghanistan 77.8% compare
- 8 Nigeria 76.5% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Africa
- Sheep and Goat Meat — Production, annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Vegetables Primary — Yield, annual growth rate -0.2987 % change on previous year (2024)
- Vegetables Primary — Area harvested, annual growth rate 2.35 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sugar Crops Primary — Production, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sugar Crops Primary — Yield, annual growth rate 1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sugar Crops Primary — Area harvested, annual growth rate 0.2698 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep and Goats — Stocks, annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep and Goat Meat — Producing Animals/Slaughtered, annual growth 0.5254 % change on previous year (2024)
- Pulses, Total — Yield, annual growth rate 2.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Pulses, Total — Production, annual growth rate 2.33 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa was 56.6% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 58.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.4% in 2014.
- How does Africa rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- Africa ranks 5th out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%). 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).