Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Asia
Southern Asia: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population was 31.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Asia, 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 Asia is 31.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 10.1% on the previous year and up 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Asia peaked at 43.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 25.9%, in 2017.
Southern Asia ranks 13th 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 Southern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 27.7% | — |
| 2015 | 27.5% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 27.1% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 25.9% | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 31.6% | +22.0% |
| 2019 | 34.1% | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 43.0% | +26.1% |
| 2021 | 39.4% | -8.4% |
| 2022 | 38.0% | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 37.5% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 35.5% | -5.3% |
| 2025 | 31.9% | -10.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 29.0% | 25.9% | 34.1% | 6 |
| 2020s | 37.6% | 31.9% | 43.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Southern Asia
More agriculture & rural data for Southern Asia
- Raw milk of cattle — Milk Animals, annual growth rate 4.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Area harvested, annual growth rate 3.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cattle and Buffaloes — Stocks, annual growth rate 1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Producing Animals/Slaughtered 2.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Production, annual growth rate 4.72 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth 1.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep fat, unrendered — Producing Animals/Slaughtered, annual growth 7.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep fat, unrendered — Production, annual growth rate 5.81 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep — Stocks, annual growth rate 3.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Raw hides and skins of goats or kids — Producing Animals/Slaughtered 7.03 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Asia?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Asia was 31.9% 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 Southern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 43.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Southern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.9% in 2017.
- How does Southern Asia rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- Southern Asia ranks 13th out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Southern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern Asia 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).