Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population was 6.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2015–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 6.9% for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in 2023. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 21.1% on the previous year and up 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 6.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2020.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 106th out of 126 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 6.3% | — |
| 2016 | 6.1% | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | -8.2% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | -12.5% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | -20.4% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | -10.3% |
| 2021 | 4.1% | +17.1% |
| 2022 | 5.7% | +39.0% |
| 2023 | 6.9% | +21.1% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 6.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.1%, 85% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 6.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.9%, 87% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5.4% | 3.9% | 6.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 3.5% | 6.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 6.9% in 2023, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 6.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 106th out of 126 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.