Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in North America
North America: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 1.1% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in North America, 2014–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.
Analysis
North America recorded 1.1% for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in 2024. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in North America peaked at 1.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2021.
That places North America 23rd out of 23 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in North America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1.0% | — |
| 2015 | 1.0% | -8.6% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | +9.4% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | -25.8% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | -10.0% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 0.9% | +29.2% |
| 2023 | 1.1% | +17.0% |
| 2024 | 1.1% | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 6 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 20 Ethiopia 19.0% compare
- 21 Dominican Republic 17.9% compare
- 22 Madagascar 17.8% compare
- 23 Libya 17.2% compare
- 23 Zambia 17.2% compare
- 25 El Salvador 15.4% compare
- 25 Honduras 15.4% compare
More health data for North America
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0315 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per capita 0.0299 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, male, per capita 0.0339 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, annual growth rate 1.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0311 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 25-29, female, annual growth rate 0.2706 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate -0.5906 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, male, annual growth rate -0.5946 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in North America?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in North America was 1.1% 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 North America?
- The highest recorded value was 1.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2021.
- How does North America rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- North America ranks 23rd out of 23 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this North America 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.