Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Cameroon
Cameroon: Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished was 24.7 percent in 2023. ▬ Flat
Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Cameroon, 2015–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in percent.
Analysis
In 2023, share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Cameroon stood at 24.7 percent.
The figure is down 2.8% on the previous year and up 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Cameroon peaked at 28.2 percent in 2017 and was at its lowest, 22.3 percent, in 2015.
Cameroon ranks 14th of 125 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | percent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 22.3 percent | — |
| 2016 | 26.6 percent | +19.3% |
| 2017 | 28.2 percent | +6.0% |
| 2018 | 28.1 percent | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 27.3 percent | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 26.7 percent | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 26.7 percent | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 25.4 percent | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 24.7 percent | -2.8% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 24.7 percent is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.1 percent, 2.4× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 24.7 percent is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.4 percent, 1.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 26.5 percent | 22.3 percent | 28.2 percent | 5 |
| 2020s | 25.88 percent | 24.7 percent | 26.7 percent | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More reference data data for Cameroon
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4076 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.199 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 17.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.08 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Cameroon?
- Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Cameroon was 24.7 percent in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 28.2 percent in 2017.
- What is the lowest share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.3 percent in 2015.
- How does Cameroon rank for share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished?
- Cameroon ranks 14th out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Both metrics indicate that someone does not get enough food (in terms of calories) to eat: these metrics should be strongly correlated. Severe food insecurity is measured based on food security questionnaires among households. Undernourishment is based on estimates of actual calorie intake across the population.