Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Asia
Southern Asia: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 15.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Asia, 2014–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Southern Asia recorded 15.1% for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in 2025.
The figure is down 5.0% on the previous year and up 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Asia peaked at 18.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.7%, in 2016.
Southern Asia ranks 10th 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 Southern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 14.2% | — |
| 2015 | 13.0% | -8.5% |
| 2016 | 11.7% | -10.0% |
| 2017 | 11.7% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 15.3% | +30.8% |
| 2019 | 16.2% | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 18.8% | +16.0% |
| 2021 | 18.8% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 17.6% | -6.4% |
| 2023 | 17.4% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 15.9% | -8.6% |
| 2025 | 15.1% | -5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13.7% | 11.7% | 16.2% | 6 |
| 2020s | 17.3% | 15.1% | 18.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Southern Asia
More agriculture & rural data for Southern Asia
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth 1.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Production, annual growth rate 4.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Yield, annual growth rate 0.8614 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Area harvested, annual growth rate 3.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cattle and Buffaloes — Stocks, annual growth rate 1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Producing Animals/Slaughtered 2.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Production, annual growth rate 4.72 % change on previous year (2024)
- Raw milk of cattle — Production, annual growth rate 5.62 % change on previous year (2024)
- Raw milk of cattle — Milk Animals, annual growth rate 4.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep — Stocks, annual growth rate 3.87 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Asia?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Southern Asia was 15.1% 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 Southern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Southern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.7% in 2016.
- How does Southern Asia rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- Southern Asia ranks 10th out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Southern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this 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).