Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Libya
Libya: Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished was 17.2 percent in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Libya, 2015–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in percent.
Analysis
Libya recorded 17.2 percent for share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in 2023.
The figure is down 13.6% on the previous year and up 53.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Libya peaked at 21.2 percent in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11.2 percent, in 2015.
That places Libya 23rd out of 125 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Libya, year by year
| Year | percent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 11.2 percent | — |
| 2016 | 12.4 percent | +10.7% |
| 2017 | 14.3 percent | +15.3% |
| 2018 | 16.7 percent | +16.8% |
| 2019 | 18.6 percent | +11.4% |
| 2020 | 20.7 percent | +11.3% |
| 2021 | 21.2 percent | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 19.9 percent | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 17.2 percent | -13.6% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 17.2 percent is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5 percent, 3.4× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Libya's 17.2 percent is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7.95 percent, 2.2× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 14.64 percent | 11.2 percent | 18.6 percent | 5 |
| 2020s | 19.75 percent | 17.2 percent | 21.2 percent | 4 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 20 Ethiopia 19 percent compare
- 21 Dominican Republic 17.9 percent compare
- 22 Madagascar 17.8 percent compare
- 23 Zambia 17.2 percent compare
- 25 El Salvador 15.4 percent compare
- 25 Honduras 15.4 percent compare
More reference data data for Libya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0637 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.021 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2136 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0873 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1144 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Libya?
- Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Libya was 17.2 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 Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 21.2 percent in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.2 percent in 2015.
- How does Libya rank for share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished?
- Libya ranks 23rd out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya 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
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.