Share of population with severe food insecurity in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population with severe food insecurity was 8.5 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
8.5
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
42nd
of 125 countries
All-time high
8.5
in 2023
All-time low
6.9
in 2018
Years of data
6
2018–2023
Share of population with severe food insecurity in South Africa, 2018–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, share of population with severe food insecurity in South Africa stood at 8.5. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 23.2% over ten years.
South Africa ranks 42nd of 125 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of population with severe food insecurity in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 6.9 | — |
| 2019 | 7.5 | +8.7% |
| 2020 | 8 | +6.7% |
| 2021 | 8.4 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 8.4 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 8.5 | +1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 8.5 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5, 1.7× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 8.5 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.4, 46% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 7.2 | 6.9 | 7.5 | 2 |
| 2020s | 8.32 | 8 | 8.5 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population with severe food insecurity in South Africa?
- Share of population with severe food insecurity in South Africa was 8.5 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population with severe food insecurity recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5 in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of population with severe food insecurity recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9 in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population with severe food insecurity?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of population with severe food insecurity rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population with severe food insecurity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).