Severe food insecurity undernourishment in Zambia
Zambia: Severe food insecurity undernourishment was 17.2 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
17.2
Change on year
down 9.5%
World rank
23rd
of 125 countries
All-time high
25
in 2018
All-time low
17.2
in 2023
Years of data
9
2015–2023
Severe food insecurity undernourishment in Zambia, 2015–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, severe food insecurity undernourishment in Zambia stood at 17.2. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of down 9.5% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, severe food insecurity undernourishment in Zambia peaked at 25 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 17.2, in 2023.
Zambia ranks 23rd of 125 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Severe food insecurity undernourishment in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 22.4 | — |
| 2016 | 23.8 | +6.3% |
| 2017 | 24.1 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 25 | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 22.5 | -10.0% |
| 2020 | 22.4 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 19.7 | -12.1% |
| 2022 | 19 | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 17.2 | -9.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 17.2 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.1, 1.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 17.2 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.4, 93% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 23.56 | 22.4 | 25 | 5 |
| 2020s | 19.57 | 17.2 | 22.4 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 20 Ethiopia 19 compare
- 21 Dominican Republic 17.9 compare
- 22 Madagascar 17.8 compare
- 23 Libya 17.2 compare
- 25 El Salvador 15.4 compare
- 25 Honduras 15.4 compare
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 (2026)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.0941 (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 (2026)
- Country level monthly temperature anomalies 0.3261 (2026)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Urban area long term, annual growth rate 3.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban area long term, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban area long term, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is severe food insecurity undernourishment in Zambia?
- Severe food insecurity undernourishment in Zambia was 17.2 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest severe food insecurity undernourishment recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 25 in 2018.
- What is the lowest severe food insecurity undernourishment recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.2 in 2023.
- How does Zambia rank for severe food insecurity undernourishment?
- Zambia ranks 23rd out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
- Is severe food insecurity undernourishment rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Severe food insecurity undernourishment. 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).