Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population was 20.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
20.9%
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
70th
of 139 countries
All-time high
20.9%
in 2024
All-time low
17.4%
in 2018
Years of data
7
2018–2024
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in South Africa, 2018–2024
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 South Africa is 20.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 20.1% over ten years.
South Africa ranks 70th of 139 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 17.4% | — |
| 2019 | 18.2% | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 19.0% | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 19.2% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 20.0% | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 20.3% | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 20.9% | +3.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 20.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.9%, 1.2× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 20.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 60.9%, 34% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 17.8% | 17.4% | 18.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 19.9% | 19.0% | 20.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in South Africa?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in South Africa was 20.9% in 2024, 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 20.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.4% in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- South Africa ranks 70th out of 139 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South 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 — 7 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).