Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in South Asia
South Asia: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 18.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in South Asia, 2014–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in South Asia is 18.0%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 9.8% on the previous year and up 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in South Asia peaked at 21.7% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 13.4%, in 2016.
That places South Asia 6th out of 23 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 16.5% | — |
| 2015 | 15.0% | -9.1% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | -10.3% |
| 2017 | 13.5% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 17.5% | +29.4% |
| 2019 | 18.7% | +7.1% |
| 2020 | 20.5% | +9.7% |
| 2021 | 21.7% | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 19.9% | -8.2% |
| 2023 | 19.9% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 18.0% | -9.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 15.8% | 13.4% | 18.7% | 6 |
| 2020s | 20.0% | 18.0% | 21.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 3 Haiti 45.4% compare
- 4 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 42.5% compare
- 5 Liberia 37.1% compare
- 6 Sierra Leone 33.7% compare
- 7 Afghanistan 31.0% compare
- 8 Namibia 30.0% compare
- 9 Kenya 28.1% compare
More health data for South Asia
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0064 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0391 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, annual growth rate 4.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0058 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 2.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 6.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, male, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in South Asia?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in South Asia was 18.0% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.7% in 2021.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.4% in 2016.
- How does South Asia rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- South Asia ranks 6th out of 23 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia 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.