Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Jamaica

Jamaica: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 27.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
27.8%
Change on year
up 4.5%
World rank
10th
of 125 countries
All-time high
27.8%
in 2023
All-time low
23.0%
in 2018
Years of data
9
2015–2023

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

01020302015201920232015: 25.3 %2016: 24.8 %2017: 24.5 %2018: 23 %2019: 23.3 %2020: 23.1 %2021: 25.6 %2022: 26.6 %2023: 27.8 %

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

Analysis

In 2023, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Jamaica stood at 27.8%. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.

The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 9.9% 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 10th out of 125 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

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

Annual values for Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Jamaica, 2015 to 2023.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 24.2% 23.0% 25.3% 5
2020s 25.8% 23.1% 27.8% 4

Countries ranked near Jamaica

  1. 7 Afghanistan 31.0% compare
  2. 8 Namibia 30.0% compare
  3. 9 Kenya 28.1% compare
  4. 11 Botswana 26.1% compare
  5. 12 Chad 25.2% compare
  6. 13 Zimbabwe 25.1% compare

See the full ranking of 148 places →

More health data for Jamaica

All data for Jamaica →

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 27.8% 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 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 10th out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Jamaica?
Over the last ten years it is up 9.9%. 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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Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Jamaica. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-severe-food-insecurity-in-the-population-percent/jamaica/

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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.