Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 21.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Least developed countries, 2014–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 21.9% for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in 2024. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Least developed countries peaked at 21.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 18.1%, in 2014.
Least developed countries ranks 3rd of 23 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 18.1% | — |
| 2015 | 18.6% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 20.0% | +7.5% |
| 2017 | 19.6% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 19.2% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 19.5% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 20.9% | +7.5% |
| 2021 | 21.8% | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 21.3% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 21.4% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 21.9% | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 19.2% | 18.1% | 20.0% | 6 |
| 2020s | 21.5% | 20.9% | 21.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 1 South Sudan 63.1% compare
- 2 Malawi 55.6% compare
- 3 Haiti 45.4% compare
- 4 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 42.5% compare
- 5 Liberia 37.1% compare
- 6 Sierra Leone 33.7% compare
More health data for Least developed countries
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, male, per capita 0.0127 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, male, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0138 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 3.46 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, female, per capita 0.0169 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, female, annual growth rate 2.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Least developed countries?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Least developed countries was 21.9% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 21.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.1% in 2014.
- How does Least developed countries rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- Least developed countries ranks 3rd out of 23 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.