Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western Africa
Western Africa: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total was 62 % in 2023. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western 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 Africa stood at 62 %. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 57.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western Africa peaked at 62 % in 2023 and was at its lowest, 39.5 %, in 2014.
That places Western Africa 5th out of 37 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 39.5 % | — |
| 2015 | 42.3 % | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 44.9 % | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 46.8 % | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 50 % | +6.8% |
| 2019 | 54.6 % | +9.2% |
| 2020 | 58.3 % | +6.8% |
| 2021 | 60.7 % | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 61.6 % | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 62 % | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 46.35 % | 39.5 % | 54.6 % | 6 |
| 2020s | 60.65 % | 58.3 % | 62 % | 4 |
Countries ranked near Western Africa
- 2 Sierra Leone 88.1 % compare
- 3 Haiti 83.5 % compare
- 3 United Republic of Tanzania 57 % compare
- 4 Malawi 81.6 % compare
- 5 Liberia 79 % compare
- 5 Melanesia 54.1 % compare
- 6 Afghanistan 77.8 % compare
- 7 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 37.7 % compare
- 7 Nigeria 76.5 % compare
- 7 Caribbean 52.6 % compare
- 8 Angola 75.4 % compare
- 8 Lao People's Democratic Republic 34.4 % compare
More agriculture & rural data for Western Africa
- Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. — Area harvested, annual growth rate -2.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep fat, unrendered — Production, annual growth rate 2.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Potatoes — Production, annual growth rate -3.71 % change on previous year (2024)
- Potatoes — Yield, annual growth rate -2.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Potatoes — Area harvested, annual growth rate -0.9609 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. — Production, annual growth rate -1.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. — Yield, annual growth rate 0.7808 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other fruits, n.e.c. — Area harvested, annual growth rate 1.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Onions and shallots, dry (excluding dehydrated) — Yield, annual 4.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Onions and shallots, dry (excluding dehydrated) — Production, annual 6.49 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western Africa?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Western Africa was 62 % 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 Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 62 % in 2023.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total recorded in Western Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.5 % in 2014.
- How does Western Africa rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total?
- Western Africa ranks 5th out of 37 groups with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total rising or falling in Western Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western 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) — Value. 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.