Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Botswana

Botswana: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) was 20.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
20.4%
Change on year
down 12.4%
World rank
19th
of 128 countries
All-time high
26.7%
in 2021
All-time low
18.4%
in 2015
Years of data
10
2015–2024

Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Botswana, 2015–2024

01020302015201920242015: 18.4 %2016: 21.5 %2017: 22.8 %2018: 23.1 %2019: 23.7 %2020: 25.4 %2021: 26.7 %2022: 26.6 %2023: 23.3 %2024: 20.4 %

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

Analysis

Botswana recorded 20.4% for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in 2024.

The figure is down 12.4% on the previous year and up 10.9% 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 19th out of 128 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

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 2024.
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 23.3% -12.4%
2024 20.4% -12.4%

Botswana compared with similar countries

  • Botswana's 20.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.7%, 4.4× the median. (40 countries reporting)
  • Botswana's 20.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 17.0%, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 21.9% 18.4% 23.7% 5
2020s 24.5% 20.4% 26.7% 5

Countries ranked near Botswana

  1. 16 Cameroon 23.9% compare
  2. 17 Tanzania 22.9% compare
  3. 18 Guatemala 22.4% compare
  4. 20 Gambia 17.6% compare
  5. 21 Zambia 17.2% compare
  6. 22 Madagascar 16.9% compare

See the full ranking of 151 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 20.4% in 2024, 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 19th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Botswana?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. 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 11 November 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
151 places, 1,433 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.