Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Canada

Canada: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 1.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
1.9%
Change on year
up 26.7%
World rank
93rd
of 125 countries
All-time high
1.9%
in 2023
All-time low
0.6%
in 2015
Years of data
9
2015–2023

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

0.511.522015201920232015: 0.6 %2016: 0.6 %2017: 0.6 %2018: 0.7 %2019: 0.9 %2020: 1 %2021: 1.2 %2022: 1.5 %2023: 1.9 %

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Canada is 1.9%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.

That represents a change of up 26.7% on the previous year and up 216.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Canada peaked at 1.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2015.

Canada ranks 93rd of 125 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Canada, 2015 to 2023.
Year % Change
2015 0.6%
2016 0.6% +0.0%
2017 0.6% +0.0%
2018 0.7% +16.7%
2019 0.9% +28.6%
2020 1.0% +11.1%
2021 1.2% +20.0%
2022 1.5% +25.0%
2023 1.9% +26.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 0.7% 0.6% 0.9% 5
2020s 1.4% 1.0% 1.9% 4

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 92 Bulgaria 2.0% compare
  2. 93 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.9% compare
  3. 93 Latvia 1.9% compare
  4. 96 Czechia 1.8% compare

See the full ranking of 148 places →

More health data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Canada?
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Canada was 1.9% 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 Canada?
The highest recorded value was 1.9% in 2023.
What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2015.
How does Canada rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
Canada ranks 93rd out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is up 216.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Canada 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 Canada. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-severe-food-insecurity-in-the-population-percent/canada/

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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.