Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Latin America and the Caribbean
Latin America and the Caribbean: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population was 22.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Latin America and the Caribbean, 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 Latin America and the Caribbean is 22.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Latin America and the Caribbean peaked at 33.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 21.7%, in 2014.
Latin America and the Caribbean ranks 19th 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.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Latin America and the Caribbean, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 21.7% | — |
| 2015 | 23.4% | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 26.9% | +15.0% |
| 2017 | 28.5% | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 26.8% | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 27.4% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 33.0% | +20.4% |
| 2021 | 32.6% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 29.3% | -10.1% |
| 2023 | 25.9% | -11.6% |
| 2024 | 23.8% | -8.1% |
| 2025 | 22.9% | -3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 25.8% | 21.7% | 28.5% | 6 |
| 2020s | 27.9% | 22.9% | 33.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latin America and the Caribbean
- 16 Guinea-Bissau 62.5% compare
- 17 Eswatini 61.7% compare
- 18 Lesotho 61.6% compare
- 19 Madagascar 61.1% compare
- 20 Cameroon 60.9% compare
- 21 Ethiopia 60.1% compare
- 22 United Republic of Tanzania 57.0% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Latin America and the Caribbean
- ILO - ILO Modelled Estimates — Share of employment in agriculture in 7.12 % (2025)
- ILO - ILO Modelled Estimates — Share of employment in agriculture in 16.69 % (2025)
- ILO - ILO Modelled Estimates — Share of employment in agriculture in 12.72 % (2025)
- ILO - ILO Modelled Estimates — Employment in agriculture - ILO 9,098 1000 No (2025)
- ILO - ILO Modelled Estimates — Employment in agriculture - ILO 29,996 1000 No (2025)
- ILO - ILO Modelled Estimates — Employment in agriculture - ILO 39,094 1000 No (2025)
- Minimum dietary energy requirement (kcal/cap/day) — Value 1,861 kcal/cap/d (2025)
- Average dietary energy requirement (kcal/cap/day) — Value 2,409 kcal/cap/d (2025)
- Per capita food supply variability (kcal/cap/day) — Value 13 kcal/cap/d (2025)
- Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) 31.5 % (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Latin America and the Caribbean?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Latin America and the Caribbean was 22.9% 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 Latin America and the Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 33.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.7% in 2014.
- How does Latin America and the Caribbean rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- Latin America and the Caribbean ranks 19th out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Latin America and the Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Latin America and the Caribbean 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.
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