Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in New Zealand

New Zealand: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 4.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
4.3%
Change on year
up 13.2%
World rank
66th
of 125 countries
All-time high
4.4%
in 2018
All-time low
2.8%
in 2015
Years of data
9
2015–2023

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

012342015201920232015: 2.8 %2016: 3.3 %2017: 4.2 %2018: 4.4 %2019: 3.9 %2020: 3.5 %2021: 3.3 %2022: 3.8 %2023: 4.3 %

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

Analysis

New Zealand recorded 4.3% for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.2% on the previous year and up 53.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in New Zealand peaked at 4.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2015.

New Zealand ranks 66th of 125 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in New Zealand, 2015 to 2023.
Year % Change
2015 2.8%
2016 3.3% +17.9%
2017 4.2% +27.3%
2018 4.4% +4.8%
2019 3.9% -11.4%
2020 3.5% -10.3%
2021 3.3% -5.7%
2022 3.8% +15.2%
2023 4.3% +13.2%

New Zealand compared with similar countries

  • New Zealand's 4.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.9%, 2.2× the median. (42 countries reporting)
  • New Zealand's 4.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.5%, 1.2× the median. (16 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 3.7% 2.8% 4.4% 5
2020s 3.7% 3.3% 4.3% 4

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 63 Grenada 4.7% compare
  2. 64 Hungary 4.5% compare
  3. 64 Samoa 4.5% compare
  4. 67 Senegal 4.0% compare
  5. 68 Australia 3.7% compare
  6. 69 Cambodia 3.6% compare
  7. 69 Chile 3.6% compare

See the full ranking of 148 places →

More health data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in New Zealand?
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in New Zealand was 4.3% 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 New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 4.4% in 2018.
What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2015.
How does New Zealand rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
New Zealand ranks 66th out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is up 53.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this New Zealand 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 New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-severe-food-insecurity-in-the-population-percent/new-zealand/

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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.