Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition, Statistics and Trends 2023

December 13, 2023

A new report by United Nations agencies reveals that nearly 282 million people in Africa, constituting about 20% of the population, experienced undernourishment in 2022. This staggering figure represents over 38% of the global population facing hunger, totaling 735 million people that year. The report, jointly released by FAO, AUC, ECA, and WFP, sheds light on the profound impact of COVID-19, contributing to a 57 million increase in undernourished individuals since the onset of the pandemic.

Regional Disparities in Undernourishment

The Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition, Statistics and Trends 2023 highlights regional disparities in undernourishment. Eastern Africa tops the list with 134.6 million undernourished individuals, followed by Western Africa with 62.8 million, Central Africa with 57 million, Northern Africa with 19.5 million, and Southern Africa with 7.6 million. The report underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions across regions.

Food Insecurity and Malnutrition

The report reveals that around 868 million people in Africa were moderately or severely food-insecure, with 342 million severely food-insecure individuals. Central Africa witnessed the highest increase in undernourishment prevalence, followed by Western Africa, Southern Africa, Eastern Africa, and Northern Africa. Notably, more women were affected by moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022 than men.

Micronutrient Deficiencies and Other Challenges

Besides hunger, the report highlights widespread micronutrient deficiencies in Africa. The prevalence of stunting among children under five was 30% in 2022. Southern Africa recorded higher-than-global estimates of overweight children, and South Africa and Botswana had particularly high prevalence rates. The report also addresses the high prevalence of anaemia among adult women in Africa.

Affordability of Nutritious Diets

The report introduces estimates on the cost and affordability of a nutritious diet, revealing that 77.5% of Africa’s population, approximately one billion individuals, could not afford a healthy diet in 2021. This contrasts sharply with the global rate of 42%. The average cost of a healthy diet in Africa increased by 5.6% from 2020-2021, emphasizing the economic challenges faced by a significant portion of the population.

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