Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population in Zambia
Zambia: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population was 19.7 % in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population in Zambia, 2014–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population in Zambia is 19.7 %, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and down 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population in Zambia peaked at 26.4 % in 2017 and was at its lowest, 19.2 %, in 2022.
That places Zambia 19th out of 113 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 23.9 % | — |
| 2015 | 25.3 % | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 25.5 % | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 26.4 % | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 24.3 % | -8.0% |
| 2019 | 24.2 % | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 21.3 % | -12.0% |
| 2021 | 20.4 % | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 19.2 % | -5.9% |
| 2023 | 19.7 % | +2.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 19.7 % is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 13.8 %, 1.4× the median. (27 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 19.7 % is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.7 %, 1.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 24.93 % | 23.9 % | 26.4 % | 6 |
| 2020s | 20.15 % | 19.2 % | 21.3 % | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 16 Guatemala 25.2 % compare
- 17 Botswana 24.4 % compare
- 18 Ethiopia 19.9 % compare
- 19 Côte d'Ivoire 8.8 % compare
- 19 Gambia 19.7 % compare
- 20 Cabo Verde 7.7 % compare
- 21 Dominican Republic 19.5 % compare
- 22 Madagascar 17.8 % compare
More agriculture & rural data for Zambia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 65.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0411 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 54.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5408 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 4.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 4.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population in Zambia?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population in Zambia was 19.7 % in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 26.4 % in 2017.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.2 % in 2022.
- How does Zambia rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population?
- Zambia ranks 19th out of 113 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the female adult population (percent) (3-year average) — Confidence interval: Upper 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.