Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Jamaica
Jamaica: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) was 27.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Jamaica, 2015–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Jamaica stood at 27.4%.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and up 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Jamaica peaked at 27.8% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 23.0%, in 2018.
That places Jamaica 9th out of 128 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 25.3% | — |
| 2016 | 24.8% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 24.5% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 23.0% | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 23.3% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 23.1% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 25.6% | +10.8% |
| 2022 | 26.6% | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 27.8% | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 27.4% | -1.4% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 27.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.7%, 5.9× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 27.4% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 6.1%, 4.5× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 24.2% | 23.0% | 25.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 26.1% | 23.1% | 27.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More health data for Jamaica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3325 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 31 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0288 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Jamaica?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Jamaica was 27.4% 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 27.8% in 2023.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.0% in 2018.
- How does Jamaica rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- Jamaica ranks 9th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.