Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Central and Southern Asia
Central and Southern Asia: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 14.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Central and Southern Asia, 2014–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Central and Southern Asia is 14.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.2% on the previous year and up 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Central and Southern Asia peaked at 18.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11.4%, in 2016.
That places Central and Southern Asia 13th 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 severe food insecurity in the population in Central and Southern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 13.7% | — |
| 2015 | 12.6% | -8.0% |
| 2016 | 11.4% | -9.5% |
| 2017 | 11.4% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 14.8% | +29.8% |
| 2019 | 15.6% | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 18.2% | +16.7% |
| 2021 | 18.3% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 17.1% | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 16.9% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 15.4% | -8.9% |
| 2025 | 14.6% | -5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13.2% | 11.4% | 15.6% | 6 |
| 2020s | 16.8% | 14.6% | 18.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Central and Southern Asia
More agriculture & rural data for Central and Southern Asia
- Countries that are contracting Parties to the International Treaty on 10 (2025)
- [PROXY] Progress toward productive and sustainable agriculture 2.76 (2024)
- [PROXY] Progress toward productive and sustainable agriculture, trend 3.6 (2024)
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population 31.3% (2025)
- Population in moderate or severe food insecurity 678,812 (2025)
- Population in severe food insecurity 317,616 (2025)
- Global food loss index 95.05 (2023)
- Food loss percentage 14.2% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Central and Southern Asia?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Central and Southern Asia was 14.6% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Central and Southern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.3% in 2021.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Central and Southern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.4% in 2016.
- How does Central and Southern Asia rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- Central and Southern Asia ranks 13th out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Central and Southern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Central and Southern Asia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Prevalence of 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).