Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population was 24.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Southern 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 Southern Africa is 24.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% on the previous year and up 13.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Africa peaked at 26.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 21.2%, in 2014.
That places Southern Africa 18th 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 Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 21.2% | — |
| 2015 | 21.5% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 21.7% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 21.9% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 21.7% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 21.9% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 24.4% | +11.4% |
| 2021 | 24.4% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 22.7% | -7.0% |
| 2023 | 26.4% | +16.3% |
| 2024 | 25.2% | -4.5% |
| 2025 | 24.4% | -3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 21.7% | 21.2% | 21.9% | 6 |
| 2020s | 24.6% | 22.7% | 26.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
More agriculture & rural data for Southern Africa
- Meat, Poultry — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth rate 2.41 % change on previous year (2024)
- Milk, Total — Milk Animals, annual growth rate -1.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Milk, Total — Production, annual growth rate 0.7492 % change on previous year (2024)
- Milk, Total — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth rate 2.83 % change on previous year (2024)
- Meat, Total — Production, annual growth rate 3.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Meat, Poultry — Producing Animals/Slaughtered, annual growth rate 0.6002 % change on previous year (2024)
- Meat, Poultry — Production, annual growth rate 3.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Eggs Primary — Production, annual growth rate -9.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Eggs Primary — Laying, annual growth rate 0.0881 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fruit Primary — Area harvested, annual growth rate -0.8158 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Africa?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Africa was 24.4% 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 Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.2% in 2014.
- How does Southern Africa rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- Southern Africa ranks 18th out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern 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).