Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in South America
South America: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population was 20.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in South America, 2014–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2025, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in South America stood at 20.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.7% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in South America peaked at 31.1% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 14.5%, in 2014.
That places South America 21st out of 35 groups with data for 2025, putting it 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 South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 14.5% | — |
| 2015 | 17.9% | +23.4% |
| 2016 | 23.5% | +31.3% |
| 2017 | 25.9% | +10.2% |
| 2018 | 23.6% | -8.9% |
| 2019 | 23.6% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 29.6% | +25.4% |
| 2021 | 31.1% | +5.1% |
| 2022 | 27.9% | -10.3% |
| 2023 | 23.0% | -17.6% |
| 2024 | 21.3% | -7.4% |
| 2025 | 20.3% | -4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 21.5% | 14.5% | 25.9% | 6 |
| 2020s | 25.5% | 20.3% | 31.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South America
More agriculture & rural data for South America
- Cereals, primary — Yield, annual growth rate 1.48 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth -1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Production, annual growth rate 7.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Producing Animals/Slaughtered 9.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cattle and Buffaloes — Stocks, annual growth rate -0.1817 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Area harvested, annual growth rate 0.0204 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Area harvested, annual growth rate -1.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Production, annual growth rate -6.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Yield, annual growth rate -5.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep fat, unrendered — Producing Animals/Slaughtered, annual growth -2.74 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in South America?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in South America was 20.3% 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 South America?
- The highest recorded value was 31.1% in 2021.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.5% in 2014.
- How does South America rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- South America ranks 21st out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South America 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).