Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Gambia
Gambia: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) was 17.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Gambia, 2016–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Gambia stood at 17.6%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 18.9% on the previous year and down 25.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Gambia peaked at 27.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 17.6%, in 2024.
Gambia ranks 20th of 128 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 23.6% | — |
| 2017 | 23.6% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 24.6% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 25.7% | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 27.1% | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 27.0% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 25.5% | -5.6% |
| 2023 | 21.7% | -14.9% |
| 2024 | 17.6% | -18.9% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 17.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 17.6%, 1.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 17.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 17.0%, 1.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 24.4% | 23.6% | 25.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 23.8% | 17.6% | 27.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More health data for Gambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 700 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9696 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0686 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9636 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0702 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Gambia?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Gambia was 17.6% 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 27.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.6% in 2024.
- How does Gambia rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- Gambia ranks 20th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gambia 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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CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.