Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Mauritania

Mauritania: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 13.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
13.1%
Change on year
up 12.9%
World rank
30th
of 125 countries
All-time high
13.1%
in 2023
All-time low
4.6%
in 2015
Years of data
9
2015–2023

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

0510152015201920232015: 4.6 %2016: 5 %2017: 5.5 %2018: 5.9 %2019: 6.6 %2020: 7.2 %2021: 9.5 %2022: 11.6 %2023: 13.1 %

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

Analysis

In 2023, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Mauritania stood at 13.1%. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.

That represents a change of up 12.9% on the previous year and up 184.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Mauritania peaked at 13.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 2015.

Mauritania ranks 30th of 125 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

Annual values for Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Mauritania, 2015 to 2023.
Year % Change
2015 4.6%
2016 5.0% +8.7%
2017 5.5% +10.0%
2018 5.9% +7.3%
2019 6.6% +11.9%
2020 7.2% +9.1%
2021 9.5% +31.9%
2022 11.6% +22.1%
2023 13.1% +12.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 5.5% 4.6% 6.6% 5
2020s 10.3% 7.2% 13.1% 4

Countries ranked near Mauritania

  1. 27 Benin 15.0% compare
  2. 28 Uganda 14.9% compare
  3. 29 Peru 14.5% compare
  4. 31 Nepal 12.8% compare
  5. 32 Argentina 12.3% compare
  6. 33 Mauritius 12.2% compare

See the full ranking of 148 places →

More health data for Mauritania

All data for Mauritania →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Mauritania?
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Mauritania was 13.1% 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 Mauritania?
The highest recorded value was 13.1% in 2023.
What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Mauritania?
The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 2015.
How does Mauritania rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
Mauritania ranks 30th out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Mauritania?
Over the last ten years it is up 184.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Mauritania 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 Mauritania. 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/mauritania/

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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.