Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zambia

Zambia: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 17.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
17.2%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
22nd
of 129 countries
All-time high
25.0%
in 2018
All-time low
17.2%
in 2023
Years of data
10
2015–2024

Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zambia, 2015–2024

05101520252015201920242015: 22.4 %2016: 23.8 %2017: 24.1 %2018: 25 %2019: 22.5 %2020: 22.4 %2021: 19.7 %2022: 19 %2023: 17.2 %2024: 17.2 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2024, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zambia stood at 17.2%. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.

The figure is down 23.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zambia peaked at 25.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 17.2%, in 2023.

That places Zambia 22nd out of 129 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Zambia, 2015 to 2024.
Year % Change
2015 22.4%
2016 23.8% +6.3%
2017 24.1% +1.3%
2018 25.0% +3.7%
2019 22.5% -10.0%
2020 22.4% -0.4%
2021 19.7% -12.1%
2022 19.0% -3.6%
2023 17.2% -9.5%
2024 17.2% +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 23.6% 22.4% 25.0% 5
2020s 19.1% 17.2% 22.4% 5

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 19 Guatemala 22.4% compare
  2. 20 Botswana 20.4% compare
  3. 21 Gambia 17.6% compare
  4. 23 Madagascar 16.9% compare
  5. 24 Ethiopia 16.6% compare
  6. 25 Dominican Republic 16.4% compare

See the full ranking of 164 places →

More agriculture & rural data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zambia?
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zambia was 17.2% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 25.0% in 2018.
What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 17.2% in 2023.
How does Zambia rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
Zambia ranks 22nd out of 129 countries with data for 2024.
Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Zambia 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.

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Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-severe-food-insecurity-in-the-population-percent-2/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
164 places, 1,571 data points, 2014–2025
Last refreshed