Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population in Western Africa
Western Africa: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population was 18.8 % in 2023. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population in Western Africa, 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 total population in Western Africa is 18.8 %, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 75.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population in Western Africa peaked at 18.8 % in 2023 and was at its lowest, 10.7 %, in 2014.
Western Africa ranks 8th of 37 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population in Western Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 10.7 % | — |
| 2015 | 11.5 % | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 12.2 % | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 12.7 % | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 13.7 % | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 14.9 % | +8.8% |
| 2020 | 16 % | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 17 % | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 18.1 % | +6.5% |
| 2023 | 18.8 % | +3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 12.62 % | 10.7 % | 14.9 % | 6 |
| 2020s | 17.48 % | 16 % | 18.8 % | 4 |
Countries ranked near Western Africa
- 5 Sierra Leone 27.9 % compare
- 6 Namibia 26.2 % compare
- 7 Kenya 25.4 % compare
- 8 Lao People's Democratic Republic 4.1 % compare
- 8 Nigeria 24.9 % compare
- 8 Republic of Moldova 4.1 % compare
- 9 Afghanistan 24.1 % compare
- 10 Chad 23.9 % compare
- 10 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 3.6 % compare
- 11 Jamaica 23.8 % compare
- 11 Viet Nam 1.1 % compare
More agriculture & rural data for Western Africa
- Sheep fat, unrendered — Production, annual growth rate 2.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep — Stocks, annual growth rate 2.44 % change on previous year (2024)
- Raw milk of cattle — Milk Animals, annual growth rate 1.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Raw milk of cattle — Production, annual growth rate 1.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Raw milk of cattle — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth rate 0.4184 % change on previous year (2024)
- Raw hides and skins of sheep or lambs — Producing -2.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Raw hides and skins of sheep or lambs — Production, annual growth rate 2.63 % change on previous year (2024)
- Raw hides and skins of sheep or lambs — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Raw hides and skins of goats or kids — Producing Animals/Slaughtered 1.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Raw hides and skins of goats or kids — Production, annual growth rate -0.9422 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population in Western Africa?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population in Western Africa was 18.8 % in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population recorded in Western Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.8 % in 2023.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population recorded in Western Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.7 % in 2014.
- How does Western Africa rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population?
- Western Africa ranks 8th out of 37 groups with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population rising or falling in Western Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western Africa 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 total population (percent) (3-year average) — Confidence interval: Lower 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.