Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) was 5.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Malaysia, 2015–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 5.2% for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.
That represents a change of down 10.3% on the previous year and down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Malaysia peaked at 7.8% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 5.2%, in 2024.
That places Malaysia 55th out of 128 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 7.8% | — |
| 2016 | 6.7% | -14.1% |
| 2017 | 6.7% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 6.7% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 6.6% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 6.3% | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 6.0% | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 5.8% | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 5.8% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 5.2% | -10.3% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 5.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.7%, 1.1× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 5.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.4%, 1.5× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6.9% | 6.6% | 7.8% | 5 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 5.2% | 6.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 652 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 18 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7207 % 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 0.0297 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5991 % 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 0.0316 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Malaysia?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Malaysia was 5.2% 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.8% in 2015.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2% in 2024.
- How does Malaysia rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- Malaysia ranks 55th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.