Food insecurity — all countries

Food insecurity — South Sudan

Food insecurity in South Sudan in 2023 — 88.1%. Ranked 133 in the world out of 134. Since 2017, the indicator has risen by 3 pp.

2023 88.1% +0.8 pp vs 2022
World rank 133of 134
Period maximum 88.1%2023
Period minimum 84.9%2018

Trend over time

2017–2023 · % of population

Food insecurity — South Sudan, 2017–202384858687888920172018201920202021202220232017: 85.1%2018: 84.9%2019: 85.7%2020: 86.4%2021: 87.3%2022: 87.3%2023: 88.1%
Change over the period: +3 pp Annual average: 0.5 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Sudan

South Sudan 88.1%
World 28.4%
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 61.9%
Eastern Africa computed 64%
Low-income countries computed 67%
Food insecurity — South Sudan, by year South Sudan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 88.1 +0.8 pp
2022 87.3 +0 pp
2021 87.3 +0.9 pp
2020 86.4 +0.7 pp
2019 85.7 +0.8 pp
2018 84.9 −0.2 pp
2017 85.1

About the indicator

The share of the population that experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, on the FIES scale of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The indicator is built not on calories but on a survey: people are asked whether over the past year they had to eat less, skip meals or go without food for a whole day because of a lack of money. That is why it catches what undernourishment by calories misses — episodic shortage in countries where the average diet is sufficient.

Important: The moderate and severe forms together, so the values are substantially higher than those of the undernourishment indicator. Based on a survey rather than on a food balance sheet — this is an independent measurement, not a refinement.

Source: FAOSTAT (FAO), license CC BY 4.0.