Indicator 2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale
This indicator provides internationally-comparable estimates of the proportion of the population facing moderate or severe difficulties in accessing food. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) produces a measure of the severity of food insecurity experienced by individuals or households, based on direct interviews. The indicator will measure progress towards SDG Target 2.1.
Target 2.1
By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
Indicator 2.1.2: Progress Assessment
Impact
The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) provides actionable information that policy makers can use to identify vulnerable population groups and guide policy interventions to ensure no one is left behind. As a direct measure of people’s access to adequate food, it complements the information provided by the SDG Indicator 2.1.1.Key results
Global food insecurity has declined gradually since 2021, but remains far above 2015 levels. About 28 percent of the global population – nearly 2.3 billion people – were moderately or severely food-insecure in 2024, compared to 21.4 percent (1.6 billion) in 2015.
More than two-thirds the population of sub-Saharan Africa was moderately or severely food insecure in 2024, up sharply from just under 50 percent in 2015. The prevalence has also been increasing since 2015, albeit much more gradually, in Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand, where more than half the population was food-insecure in 2024. In Central and Southern Asia, and in Western Asia and Northern Africa, over one-third of the population was moderately or severely food insecure in 2024 (37.5 and 36.5 percent, respectively). The prevalence is far above 2015 levels in both regions but lower compared to 2021, and in Western Asia and Northern Africa, it has been on the rise since 2022.
Notable improvement occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean, where steady progress has been made since 2021. The number of people affected by moderate or severe food insecurity fell by 50 million between 2021 and 2024, with a decrease in the prevalence from 33.4 to 25.2 percent (equivalent to about 217 million and 167 million people, respectively), driven mainly by progress in South America.
In 2024, the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in Eastern and South-eastern Asia (8.5 percent) was just slightly higher compared to Northern America and Europe (8.1 percent), and in Australia and New Zealand, the prevalence was 15 percent.
Highlights
Elearning
SDG Indicator 2.1.2 - Using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)
02/06/2023
In the context of reporting on the SDG Indicator 2.1.2, this course introduces the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and explains how it can be...
Multimedia
SDG 2 – Indicators of hunger and severity of food insecurity
01/01/2019
An overview of SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2, measuring hunger and severity of food insecurity.
Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators (2022)
01/09/2022
Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators offers detailed analyses and trends on selected indicators for which...
Capacity development
Belmopan (Belize)
Statistical Institute of Belize Hosts National Workshop on Food Insecurity Data Analysis
24/11/2025 - 27/11/2025
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG Indicator 2.1.2
Hammamet (Tunisia)
FAO Delivers Regional Training on the Degree of Urbanization (DEGURBA) Methodology in Tunisia
21/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG Indicator 2.1.2
Port Louis (Mauritius)
Food Consumption and Food Insecurity Analysis Workshop (Port Louis, Mauritius)
06/10/2025 - 10/10/2025
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
National Training Workshop on Food Security SDG Indicators (2.1.1 & 2.1.2) (Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic)
29/09/2025 - 03/10/2025
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
Dhaka (Bangladesh)
National Training Workshop on Food Security SDG Indicators (2.1.1 & 2.1.2) (Dhaka, Bangladesh)
07/07/2025 - 10/07/2025
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
Baku (Azerbaijan)
FAO Hosts National Workshop on Food security assessment in Azerbaijan
01/07/2025 - 04/07/2025
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
Virtual Event
National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Palestine
02/03/2025 - 06/03/2025
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
Kigali (Rwanda)
National workshop on FIES data analysis in Kigali (Rwanda)
11/12/2024 - 12/12/2024
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG Indicator 2.1.2
Apia (Samoa)
Regional Workshop on SDG Indicator 2.1.2 (Apia, Samoa)
02/12/2024 - 05/12/2024
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG Indicator 2.1.2
(Italy)
Workshop on Food Security SDG Indicators (2.1.1 & 2.1.2) (Rome, Italy)
27/11/2024 - 29/11/2024
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
Bangkok (Thailand)
National Training Workshop on Food Security SDG Indicators (2.1.1 & 2.1.2) (Bangkok, Thailand)
11/11/2024 - 15/11/2024
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
National Training Workshop on Food Security SDG Indicators (2.1.1 & 2.1.2) (Hanoi, Viet Nam)
07/10/2024 - 11/10/2024
National Workshop on SDG Indicator 2.1.2 (Lusaka, Zambia)
16/09/2024 - 20/09/2024
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG Indicator 2.1.2
National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 (Kenya, Nairobi)
10/06/2024 - 15/06/2024
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
National Workshop on SDG Indicator 2.1.2 (Ezulwini, Eswatini)
05/06/2024 - 07/06/2024
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG Indicator 2.1.2
Regional workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Lomé (Togo)
01/06/2024 - 07/06/2024
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Bagdad (Iraq)
19/05/2024 - 23/05/2024
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to...
Virtual Event
Online training on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
27/03/2024
On March 27, FAO is delivering an online training on SDG indicators 2.1.1 "Prevalence of Undernourishment" and 2.1.2 "Prevalence of moderate or...
National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Yerevan (Armenia)
18/03/2024 - 22/03/2024
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
National workshop on Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) data analysis in Praia (Cabo Verde)
04/03/2024 - 06/03/2024
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG Indicator 2.1.2
Methodology
Tier: I
Data
- SDG Indicators Global Database
- FAOSTAT - Suite of Food Security Indicators
- FAOSTAT - SDG Indicators
- Food and Agriculture Microdata (FAM) catalogue