Number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure by country
Food insecurity is defined by the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). Moderate food insecurity is associated with the inability to regularly eat healthy, nutritious diets. Severe food insecurity is related to insufficient quantity of food.
Countries reporting
126
Highest
170.40 million people
Nigeria
Lowest
100,000 people
Samoa
Median
3.00 million people
Years covered
9
2015–2023
Data points
1,051
What the numbers show
Number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure is currently reported for 126 countries. The highest value is 170.40 million people in Nigeria; the lowest is 100,000 people in Samoa.
The median across all reporting countries is 3.00 million people, and the mean is 10.22 million people.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 1,704.
Over the past decade 79 countries rose and 26 fell. The largest increase was in Paraguay (up 260.0%), and the largest decrease in Russia (down 66.7%).
Number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria | 170.40 million people | 2023 | up 157.8% | rising |
| 2 | Pakistan | 104.30 million people | 2023 | up 242.0% | volatile |
| 3 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 86.20 million people | 2023 | — | rising |
| 4 | Ethiopia | 79.10 million people | 2023 | up 35.4% | rising |
| 5 | Kenya | 40.90 million people | 2023 | up 71.1% | rising |
| 6 | Tanzania | 38.70 million people | 2023 | up 52.4% | rising |
| 7 | Philippines | 37.80 million people | 2023 | down 16.2% | falling |
| 8 | Egypt | 35.30 million people | 2023 | up 27.9% | rising |
| 8 | United States | 35.30 million people | 2023 | up 3.5% | flat |
| 10 | Iran | 35.20 million people | 2023 | down 11.3% | falling |
| 11 | Afghanistan | 33.60 million people | 2023 | up 121.1% | rising |
| 12 | Yemen | 28.80 million people | 2023 | up 102.8% | rising |
| 13 | Brazil | 28.50 million people | 2023 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 14 | Uganda | 26.60 million people | 2023 | up 6.8% | flat |
| 15 | Mexico | 25.10 million people | 2023 | down 16.9% | falling |
| 16 | Madagascar | 22.60 million people | 2023 | up 41.2% | rising |
| 17 | Myanmar | 17.70 million people | 2023 | — | rising |
| 18 | Cameroon | 17.40 million people | 2023 | up 52.6% | rising |
| 19 | Malawi | 17.20 million people | 2023 | up 28.4% | rising |
| 20 | Argentina | 15.40 million people | 2023 | up 85.5% | rising |
| 21 | Ghana | 15.00 million people | 2023 | up 36.4% | rising |
| 22 | Colombia | 14.60 million people | 2023 | up 55.3% | rising |
| 23 | Peru | 13.90 million people | 2023 | up 49.5% | rising |
| 24 | Niger | 13.30 million people | 2023 | up 24.3% | rising |
| 25 | South Africa | 13.10 million people | 2023 | up 28.4% | rising |
| 26 | Chad | 12.80 million people | 2023 | up 28.0% | rising |
| 27 | Ukraine | 12.60 million people | 2023 | up 38.5% | rising |
| 28 | Indonesia | 12.50 million people | 2023 | down 20.4% | falling |
| 29 | Cote d'Ivoire | 12.00 million people | 2023 | up 39.5% | rising |
| 30 | Zimbabwe | 11.20 million people | 2023 | up 20.4% | rising |
| 31 | Nepal | 10.90 million people | 2023 | up 32.9% | rising |
| 32 | Vietnam | 10.70 million people | 2023 | up 81.4% | rising |
| 33 | South Sudan | 10.10 million people | 2023 | up 13.5% | rising |
| 34 | Haiti | 9.70 million people | 2023 | — | rising |
| 35 | Burkina Faso | 9.50 million people | 2023 | up 23.4% | rising |
| 36 | Zambia | 9.40 million people | 2023 | up 11.9% | rising |
| 37 | Benin | 9.30 million people | 2023 | up 47.6% | rising |
| 38 | Guatemala | 8.80 million people | 2023 | up 29.4% | rising |
| 39 | Uzbekistan | 8.70 million people | 2023 | up 155.9% | rising |
| 40 | Algeria | 8.10 million people | 2023 | down 12.0% | flat |
| 41 | Sierra Leone | 7.60 million people | 2023 | up 43.4% | rising |
| 42 | Japan | 7.30 million people | 2023 | up 121.2% | rising |
| 43 | Cambodia | 7.00 million people | 2023 | up 12.9% | rising |
| 44 | Ecuador | 6.00 million people | 2023 | up 76.5% | rising |
| 45 | Malaysia | 5.90 million people | 2023 | up 9.3% | rising |
| 46 | France | 5.60 million people | 2023 | up 27.3% | rising |
| 47 | Togo | 5.40 million people | 2023 | up 17.4% | rising |
| 48 | Senegal | 5.30 million people | 2023 | down 7.0% | falling |
| 49 | Dominican Republic | 5.00 million people | 2023 | down 12.3% | falling |
| 50 | Mali | 4.90 million people | 2023 | down 3.9% | falling |
| 51 | United Kingdom | 4.70 million people | 2023 | up 14.6% | flat |
| 52 | Honduras | 4.40 million people | 2023 | up 15.8% | rising |
| 52 | Liberia | 4.40 million people | 2023 | up 18.9% | rising |
| 54 | Canada | 4.00 million people | 2023 | up 122.2% | rising |
| 54 | Russia | 4.00 million people | 2023 | down 66.7% | falling |
| 56 | Thailand | 3.90 million people | 2023 | up 14.7% | rising |
| 57 | Chile | 3.80 million people | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 58 | Australia | 3.70 million people | 2023 | up 42.3% | rising |
| 59 | Romania | 3.50 million people | 2023 | down 7.9% | flat |
| 60 | Germany | 3.40 million people | 2023 | up 3.0% | rising |
| 61 | Mauritania | 3.30 million people | 2023 | up 230.0% | rising |
| 62 | Spain | 3.10 million people | 2023 | down 6.1% | flat |
| 62 | Tunisia | 3.10 million people | 2023 | up 47.6% | rising |
| 64 | El Salvador | 2.90 million people | 2023 | up 11.5% | rising |
| 65 | South Korea | 2.80 million people | 2023 | up 16.7% | rising |
| 66 | Laos | 2.70 million people | 2023 | — | rising |
| 67 | Libya | 2.60 million people | 2023 | up 36.8% | rising |
| 67 | Sri Lanka | 2.60 million people | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 67 | Tajikistan | 2.60 million people | 2023 | up 62.5% | rising |
| 70 | Lebanon | 2.40 million people | 2023 | up 166.7% | rising |
| 71 | Paraguay | 1.80 million people | 2022 | up 260.0% | rising |
| 72 | Namibia | 1.70 million people | 2023 | up 30.8% | rising |
| 73 | Jamaica | 1.60 million people | 2023 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 74 | Gambia | 1.50 million people | 2023 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 74 | Hungary | 1.50 million people | 2023 | up 36.4% | rising |
| 74 | Palestine | 1.50 million people | 2023 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 77 | Azerbaijan | 1.40 million people | 2023 | up 133.3% | rising |
| 77 | Lesotho | 1.40 million people | 2023 | up 27.3% | rising |
| 77 | Netherlands | 1.40 million people | 2023 | up 40.0% | rising |
| 80 | Botswana | 1.30 million people | 2023 | up 30.0% | rising |
| 80 | Guinea-Bissau | 1.30 million people | 2022 | up 8.3% | rising |
| 80 | Poland | 1.30 million people | 2023 | down 61.8% | falling |
| 83 | Portugal | 1.20 million people | 2023 | down 20.0% | falling |
| 84 | Czechia | 1.10 million people | 2023 | up 83.3% | rising |
| 85 | Georgia | 1.00 million people | 2023 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 86 | Albania | 900,000 people | 2023 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 86 | Belgium | 900,000 people | 2023 | — | rising |
| 86 | Israel | 900,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | falling |
| 86 | New Zealand | 900,000 people | 2023 | up 80.0% | rising |
| 90 | Bulgaria | 800,000 people | 2023 | down 27.3% | falling |
| 90 | Costa Rica | 800,000 people | 2023 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 90 | Moldova | 800,000 people | 2023 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 90 | Serbia | 800,000 people | 2023 | down 20.0% | flat |
| 94 | Finland | 700,000 people | 2023 | up 40.0% | rising |
| 94 | Greece | 700,000 people | 2023 | down 58.8% | falling |
| 94 | Sweden | 700,000 people | 2023 | up 75.0% | rising |
| 97 | Kyrgyzstan | 500,000 people | 2022 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 97 | Singapore | 500,000 people | 2023 | up 150.0% | rising |
| 97 | Uruguay | 500,000 people | 2023 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 100 | Austria | 400,000 people | 2023 | down 20.0% | falling |
| 100 | Denmark | 400,000 people | 2023 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 100 | Kazakhstan | 400,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 100 | Kuwait | 400,000 people | 2023 | down 20.0% | falling |
| 100 | Mauritius | 400,000 people | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 100 | Norway | 400,000 people | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 100 | Slovakia | 400,000 people | 2023 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 107 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 300,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 107 | Ireland | 300,000 people | 2023 | down 25.0% | falling |
| 107 | North Macedonia | 300,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 110 | Armenia | 200,000 people | 2023 | down 60.0% | falling |
| 110 | Switzerland | 200,000 people | 2023 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 110 | Cape Verde | 200,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 110 | Croatia | 200,000 people | 2023 | down 33.3% | flat |
| 110 | Lithuania | 200,000 people | 2023 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 110 | Latvia | 200,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 110 | Mongolia | 200,000 people | 2023 | — | flat |
| 110 | Slovenia | 200,000 people | 2023 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 118 | Belarus | 100,000 people | 2023 | — | flat |
| 118 | Estonia | 100,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 118 | Grenada | 100,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 118 | Iceland | 100,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 118 | Kiribati | 100,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 118 | Luxembourg | 100,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 118 | Malta | 100,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 118 | Montenegro | 100,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 118 | Samoa | 100,000 people | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
About this data
Food insecurity is defined by the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). Moderate food insecurity is associated with the inability to regularly eat healthy, nutritious diets. Severe food insecurity is related to insufficient quantity of food.