Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) was 26.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Nigeria, 2015–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 26.4% for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in 2024. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.6% on the previous year and up 140.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Nigeria peaked at 26.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 11.0%, in 2015.
That places Nigeria 11th out of 128 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 11.0% | — |
| 2016 | 12.3% | +11.8% |
| 2017 | 13.6% | +10.6% |
| 2018 | 15.1% | +11.0% |
| 2019 | 17.3% | +14.6% |
| 2020 | 19.8% | +14.5% |
| 2021 | 21.3% | +7.6% |
| 2022 | 22.6% | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 24.3% | +7.5% |
| 2024 | 26.4% | +8.6% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 26.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.7%, 2.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 26.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 17.0%, 1.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13.9% | 11.0% | 17.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 22.9% | 19.8% | 26.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More health data for Nigeria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 257,921 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 14 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0711 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0729 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Nigeria?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Nigeria was 26.4% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 26.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.0% in 2015.
- How does Nigeria rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- Nigeria ranks 11th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 140.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.