Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Botswana

Botswana: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 26.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
26.1%
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
11th
of 125 countries
All-time high
26.7%
in 2021
All-time low
18.4%
in 2015
Years of data
9
2015–2023

Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Botswana, 2015–2023

01020302015201920232015: 18.4 %2016: 21.5 %2017: 22.8 %2018: 23.1 %2019: 23.7 %2020: 25.4 %2021: 26.7 %2022: 26.6 %2023: 26.1 %

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.

Analysis

Botswana recorded 26.1% for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in 2023.

The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 41.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Botswana peaked at 26.7% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 18.4%, in 2015.

That places Botswana 11th out of 125 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Botswana, 2015 to 2023.
Year % Change
2015 18.4%
2016 21.5% +16.8%
2017 22.8% +6.0%
2018 23.1% +1.3%
2019 23.7% +2.6%
2020 25.4% +7.2%
2021 26.7% +5.1%
2022 26.6% -0.4%
2023 26.1% -1.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 21.9% 18.4% 23.7% 5
2020s 26.2% 25.4% 26.7% 4

Countries ranked near Botswana

  1. 8 Namibia 30.0% compare
  2. 9 Kenya 28.1% compare
  3. 10 Jamaica 27.8% compare
  4. 12 Chad 25.2% compare
  5. 13 Zimbabwe 25.1% compare
  6. 14 Cameroon 24.7% compare
  7. 14 Lesotho 24.7% compare

See the full ranking of 148 places →

More health data for Botswana

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Botswana?
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Botswana was 26.1% in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
What is the highest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Botswana?
The highest recorded value was 26.7% in 2021.
What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Botswana?
The lowest recorded value was 18.4% in 2015.
How does Botswana rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
Botswana ranks 11th out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Botswana?
Over the last ten years it is up 41.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Botswana data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Botswana. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-severe-food-insecurity-in-the-population-percent/botswana/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%)
Unit
%
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
148 places, 1,295 data points, 2014–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of people in the population who live in households classified as severely food insecure. A household is classified as severely food insecure when at least one adult in the household has reported to have been exposed, at times during the year, to several of the most severe experiences described in the FIES questions, such as to have been forced to reduce the quantity of the food, to have skipped meals, having gone hungry, or having to go for a whole day without eating because of a lack of money or other resources.