Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 19.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
19.0%
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
20th
of 125 countries
All-time high
21.1%
in 2021
All-time low
14.1%
in 2018
Years of data
9
2015–2023

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

051015202015201920232015: 14.5 %2016: 15 %2017: 14.8 %2018: 14.1 %2019: 16.4 %2020: 19.6 %2021: 21.1 %2022: 19.7 %2023: 19 %

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 Ethiopia is 19.0%, measured in 2023.

The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Ethiopia peaked at 21.1% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 14.1%, in 2018.

Ethiopia ranks 20th of 125 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

Annual values for Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Ethiopia, 2015 to 2023.
Year % Change
2015 14.5%
2016 15.0% +3.4%
2017 14.8% -1.3%
2018 14.1% -4.7%
2019 16.4% +16.3%
2020 19.6% +19.5%
2021 21.1% +7.7%
2022 19.7% -6.6%
2023 19.0% -3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 15.0% 14.1% 16.4% 5
2020s 19.9% 19.0% 21.1% 4

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 17 Nigeria 24.3% compare
  2. 18 Gambia 21.7% compare
  3. 19 Guatemala 21.3% compare
  4. 21 Dominican Republic 17.9% compare
  5. 22 Madagascar 17.8% compare
  6. 23 Libya 17.2% compare
  7. 23 Zambia 17.2% compare

See the full ranking of 148 places →

More health data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Ethiopia?
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Ethiopia was 19.0% 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 Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 21.1% in 2021.
What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 14.1% in 2018.
How does Ethiopia rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
Ethiopia ranks 20th out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-severe-food-insecurity-in-the-population-percent/ethiopia/

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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.