Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Zambia
Zambia: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%) was 45.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Zambia, 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 Zambia is 45.8%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Zambia peaked at 54.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 45.3%, in 2023.
Zambia ranks 31st of 130 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 51.2% | — |
| 2016 | 52.4% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 52.0% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 54.2% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 52.5% | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 51.8% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 47.9% | -7.5% |
| 2022 | 46.1% | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 45.3% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 45.8% | +1.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 45.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 43.7%, 1.0× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 45.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 60.5%, 76% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 52.5% | 51.2% | 54.2% | 5 |
| 2020s | 47.4% | 45.3% | 51.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 8,894 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Zambia?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Zambia was 45.8% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 54.2% in 2018.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.3% in 2023.
- How does Zambia rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- Zambia ranks 31st out of 130 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.