Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Japan
Japan: Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished was 1.1 percent in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Japan, 2015–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in percent.
Analysis
Japan recorded 1.1 percent for share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.3% on the previous year and up 120.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Japan peaked at 1.2 percent in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.5 percent, in 2015.
That places Japan 107th out of 125 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Japan, year by year
| Year | percent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 0.5 percent | — |
| 2016 | 0.5 percent | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.5 percent | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.7 percent | +40.0% |
| 2019 | 0.7 percent | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.9 percent | +28.6% |
| 2021 | 0.9 percent | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.2 percent | +33.3% |
| 2023 | 1.1 percent | -8.3% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 1.1 percent is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.95 percent, 56% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Japan's 1.1 percent is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.55 percent, 31% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 0.58 percent | 0.5 percent | 0.7 percent | 5 |
| 2020s | 1.02 percent | 0.9 percent | 1.2 percent | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 104 Azerbaijan 1.3 percent compare
- 105 Germany 1.2 percent compare
- 105 Lithuania 1.2 percent compare
- 107 Estonia 1.1 percent compare
- 107 Kyrgyzstan 1.1 percent compare
- 107 South Korea 1.1 percent compare
- 107 Sri Lanka 1.1 percent compare
- 107 Switzerland 1.1 percent compare
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Japan?
- Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Japan was 1.1 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.2 percent in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5 percent in 2015.
- How does Japan rank for share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished?
- Japan ranks 107th out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 120.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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.