Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western Asia and Northern Africa
Western Asia and Northern Africa: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total was 34.2 % in 2023. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western Asia and Northern Africa, 2014–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western Asia and Northern Africa stood at 34.2 %.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and up 18.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western Asia and Northern Africa peaked at 35.4 % in 2021 and was at its lowest, 28.9 %, in 2014.
Western Asia and Northern Africa ranks 13th of 37 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western Asia and Northern Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 28.9 % | — |
| 2015 | 29.8 % | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 30.6 % | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 30.8 % | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 31.4 % | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 33.4 % | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 34.9 % | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 35.4 % | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 34.9 % | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 34.2 % | -2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 30.82 % | 28.9 % | 33.4 % | 6 |
| 2020s | 34.85 % | 34.2 % | 35.4 % | 4 |
Countries ranked near Western Asia and Northern Africa
More agriculture & rural data for Western Asia and Northern Africa
- Minimum dietary energy requirement (kcal/cap/day) — Value 1,828 kcal/cap/d (2025)
- Average dietary energy requirement (kcal/cap/day) — Value 2,365 kcal/cap/d (2025)
- Per capita food supply variability (kcal/cap/day) — Value 25 kcal/cap/d (2025)
- Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) 31.6 % (2024)
- Percentage of children under 5 years of age who are overweight 7.4 % (2024)
- Percentage of children under 5 years of age who are stunted (modelled) 18.1 % (2024)
- Gross domestic product per capita, PPP, (constant 2021 international) 23,360 Int$/cap (2024)
- Percentage of population using at least basic sanitation services 91 % (2024)
- Number of obese adults (18 years and older) (million) — Value 119 million No (2024)
- Dietary energy supply used in the estimation of the prevalence of 3,028 kcal/cap/d (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western Asia and Northern Africa?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western Asia and Northern Africa was 34.2 % in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total recorded in Western Asia and Northern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.4 % in 2021.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total recorded in Western Asia and Northern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.9 % in 2014.
- How does Western Asia and Northern Africa rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total?
- Western Asia and Northern Africa ranks 13th out of 37 groups with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total rising or falling in Western Asia and Northern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western Asia and Northern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total population (percent) (3-year average) — Confidence interval: Lower bound. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Suite of Food Security Indicators presents the core set of food security indicators. Following the recommendation of experts gathered in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Round Table on hunger measurement, hosted at FAO headquarters in September 2011, an initial set of indicators aiming to capture various aspects of food insecurity is presented here. The choice of the indicators has been informed by expert judgement and the availability of data with sufficient coverage to enable comparisons across regions and over time. Many of these indicators are produced and published elsewhere by FAO and other international organizations. They are reported here in a single database with the aim of building a wide food security information system. More indicators will be added to this set as more data will become available. Indicators are classified along the four dimensions of food security -- availability, access, utilization and stability.