Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 2.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Europe & Central Asia, 2014–2024
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 Europe & Central Asia is 2.4%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 7.6% on the previous year and up 35.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 2.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2019.
That places Europe & Central Asia 19th out of 23 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1.8% | — |
| 2015 | 1.9% | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | -17.7% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 2.2% | +51.4% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | +22.4% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | -5.4% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | -7.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 6 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
- 16 Tanzania, United Republic of 24.4% compare
- 17 Nigeria 24.3% compare
- 18 Gambia 21.7% compare
- 19 Guatemala 21.3% compare
- 20 Ethiopia 19.0% compare
- 21 Dominican Republic 17.9% compare
- 22 Madagascar 17.8% compare
More health data for Europe & Central Asia
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 0.9265 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, male, per capita 0.0339 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 10-14, female, per capita 0.0299 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, male, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0346 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 10-14, male, annual growth rate 0.6344 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.0352 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Europe & Central Asia?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Europe & Central Asia was 2.4% 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 Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2019.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 19th out of 23 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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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About this data
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.