Share of population with moderate or severe food insecurity in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Share of population with moderate or severe food insecurity was 11.2 percent in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of population with moderate or severe food insecurity in Sri Lanka, 2015–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in percent.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 11.2 percent for share of population with moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023.
The figure is down 1.8% on the previous year and up 89.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population with moderate or severe food insecurity in Sri Lanka peaked at 11.4 percent in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5.8 percent, in 2016.
That places Sri Lanka 83rd out of 126 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of population with moderate or severe food insecurity in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | percent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5.9 percent | — |
| 2016 | 5.8 percent | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 6.5 percent | +12.1% |
| 2018 | 7.6 percent | +16.9% |
| 2019 | 8.9 percent | +17.1% |
| 2020 | 10 percent | +12.4% |
| 2021 | 10.9 percent | +9.0% |
| 2022 | 11.4 percent | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 11.2 percent | -1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6.94 percent | 5.8 percent | 8.9 percent | 5 |
| 2020s | 10.88 percent | 10 percent | 11.4 percent | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More population data for Sri Lanka
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0083 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 21,815 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1332 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6507 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Population density 343.51 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 901,396 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population with moderate or severe food insecurity in Sri Lanka?
- Share of population with moderate or severe food insecurity in Sri Lanka was 11.2 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 population with moderate or severe food insecurity recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 11.4 percent in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of population with moderate or severe food insecurity recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.8 percent in 2016.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for share of population with moderate or severe food insecurity?
- Sri Lanka ranks 83rd out of 126 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of population with moderate or severe food insecurity rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 89.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 population with moderate or severe food insecurity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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 more related to insufficient quantity of food (energy).