Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) was 25.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
25.3%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
12th
of 128 countries
All-time high
36.7%
in 2016
All-time low
25.1%
in 2023
Years of data
10
2015–2024

Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zimbabwe, 2015–2024

0102030402015201920242015: 35.5 %2016: 36.7 %2017: 35.9 %2018: 34.2 %2019: 32.1 %2020: 31.3 %2021: 28.6 %2022: 26.1 %2023: 25.1 %2024: 25.3 %

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

Analysis

In 2024, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zimbabwe stood at 25.3%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 28.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zimbabwe peaked at 36.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 25.1%, in 2023.

That places Zimbabwe 12th out of 128 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Zimbabwe, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Zimbabwe, 2015 to 2024.
Year % Change
2015 35.5% —
2016 36.7% +3.4%
2017 35.9% -2.2%
2018 34.2% -4.7%
2019 32.1% -6.1%
2020 31.3% -2.5%
2021 28.6% -8.6%
2022 26.1% -8.7%
2023 25.1% -3.8%
2024 25.3% +0.8%

Zimbabwe compared with similar countries

  • Zimbabwe's 25.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.7%, 2.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
  • Zimbabwe's 25.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 17.0%, 1.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 34.9% 32.1% 36.7% 5
2020s 27.3% 25.1% 31.3% 5

Countries ranked near Zimbabwe

  1. 9 Jamaica 27.4% compare
  2. 10 Kenya 26.5% compare
  3. 11 Nigeria 26.4% compare
  4. 13 Chad 25.2% compare
  5. 14 Eswatini 25.0% compare
  6. 15 Lesotho 24.3% compare

See the full ranking of 151 places →

More health data for Zimbabwe

All data for Zimbabwe →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zimbabwe?
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Zimbabwe was 25.3% 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 Zimbabwe?
The highest recorded value was 36.7% in 2016.
What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Zimbabwe?
The lowest recorded value was 25.1% in 2023.
How does Zimbabwe rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
Zimbabwe ranks 12th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
Over the last ten years it is down 28.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-severe-food-insecurity-in-the-population-percent/zimbabwe/

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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
151 places, 1,433 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.