Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Jamaica
Jamaica: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%) was 55.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Jamaica, 2015–2024
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 Jamaica is 55.8%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Jamaica peaked at 56.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 45.8%, in 2018.
Jamaica ranks 24th of 130 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 48.3% | — |
| 2016 | 47.4% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 46.9% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 45.8% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 48.4% | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 50.3% | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 54.4% | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 55.1% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 56.4% | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 55.8% | -1.1% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 55.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.5%, 2.9× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 55.8% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 29.6%, 1.9× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 47.4% | 45.8% | 48.4% | 5 |
| 2020s | 54.4% | 50.3% | 56.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More health data for Jamaica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3325 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 31 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0288 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Jamaica?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Jamaica was 55.8% 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 56.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.8% in 2018.
- How does Jamaica rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- Jamaica ranks 24th out of 130 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.