Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population was 63.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa Western and Central, 2014–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa Western and Central is 63.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 64.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa Western and Central peaked at 63.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 38.9%, in 2014.
Africa Western and Central ranks 3rd of 23 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 38.9% | — |
| 2015 | 42.1% | +8.3% |
| 2016 | 46.0% | +9.2% |
| 2017 | 47.6% | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 49.8% | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 51.0% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 55.8% | +9.4% |
| 2021 | 61.5% | +10.2% |
| 2022 | 61.1% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 62.1% | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 63.8% | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 45.9% | 38.9% | 51.0% | 6 |
| 2020s | 60.9% | 55.8% | 63.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 1 Sierra Leone 89.8% compare
- 2 South Sudan 88.1% compare
- 3 Haiti 83.2% compare
- 4 Malawi 81.7% compare
- 5 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 81.5% compare
- 6 Afghanistan 80.8% compare
- 6 Liberia 80.8% compare
More health data for Africa Western and Central
- Population ages 35-39, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 2.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.0237 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 2.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, annual growth rate 2.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 2.27 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa Western and Central?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Africa Western and Central was 63.8% in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 63.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.9% in 2014.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 3rd out of 23 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of people in the population who live in households classified as moderately or severely food insecure. A household is classified as moderately or severely food insecure when at least one adult in the household has reported to have been exposed, at times during the year, to low quality diets and might have been forced to also reduce the quantity of food they would normally eat because of a lack of money or other resources.