Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in South America
South America: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 4.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in South America, 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 South America is 4.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.5% on the previous year and up 44.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in South America peaked at 10.7% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2015.
South America ranks 23rd 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 severe food insecurity in the population in South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 3.2% | — |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -9.4% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | +75.9% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | +13.7% |
| 2018 | 5.4% | -6.9% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 8.7% | +58.2% |
| 2021 | 10.7% | +23.0% |
| 2022 | 8.6% | -19.6% |
| 2023 | 5.4% | -37.2% |
| 2024 | 4.8% | -11.1% |
| 2025 | 4.2% | -12.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.6% | 2.9% | 5.8% | 6 |
| 2020s | 7.1% | 4.2% | 10.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South America
More agriculture & rural data for South America
- Cereals, primary — Production, annual growth rate 1.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fruit Primary — Yield, annual growth rate -1.82 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fruit Primary — Area harvested, annual growth rate 1.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Eggs Primary — Laying, annual growth rate 6.35 % change on previous year (2024)
- Eggs Primary — Production, annual growth rate 7.37 % change on previous year (2024)
- Eggs Primary — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth rate 0.9589 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Production, annual growth rate -6.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Yield, annual growth rate -5.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Area harvested, annual growth rate -1.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth -1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in South America?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in South America was 4.2% 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 South America?
- The highest recorded value was 10.7% in 2021.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2015.
- How does South America rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- South America ranks 23rd out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South America 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).