Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Eastern Africa
Eastern Africa: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population was 62.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Eastern 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 Eastern Africa is 62.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Eastern Africa peaked at 65.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 56.2%, in 2014.
Eastern Africa ranks 2nd of 35 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Eastern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 56.2% | — |
| 2015 | 56.3% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 62.8% | +11.5% |
| 2017 | 64.0% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 62.0% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 62.8% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 65.1% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 63.9% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 64.7% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 62.6% | -3.2% |
| 2024 | 64.1% | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 62.1% | -3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 60.7% | 56.2% | 64.0% | 6 |
| 2020s | 63.8% | 62.1% | 65.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eastern Africa
- 1 South Sudan 88.8% compare
- 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
More agriculture & rural data for Eastern Africa
- Sheep and Goat Meat — Production, annual growth rate 7.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Roots and Tubers, Total — Area harvested, annual growth rate -4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Roots and Tubers, Total — Yield, annual growth rate 3.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Roots and Tubers, Total — Production, annual growth rate -1.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep and Goat Meat — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep and Goats — Stocks, annual growth rate 7.06 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sugar Crops Primary — Yield, annual growth rate 1.21 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sugar Crops Primary — Area harvested, annual growth rate 9.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Pulses, Total — Production, annual growth rate -2.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep and Goat Meat — Producing Animals/Slaughtered, annual growth 5.25 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Eastern Africa?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Eastern Africa was 62.1% 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 Eastern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 65.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Eastern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.2% in 2014.
- How does Eastern Africa rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- Eastern Africa ranks 2nd out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Eastern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eastern 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).