From 2021 to 2023, among the Central American countries, Guatemala had the highest prevalence of food insecurity, accounting for 59.8 percent of the population. It was followed by Honduras and El Salvador. Food insecurity is defined as the lack of regular access to enough safe and nutritious food, leading to a healthy lifestyle.
Prevalence of food insecurity in Central America between 2021 and 2023, by country
Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico
Survey time period
2021 to 2023
Special properties
Average three-year estimates
Supplementary notes
According to FAO: "A person is food insecure when they lack regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life. This may be due to unavailability of food and/or lack of resources to obtain food. Food insecurity can be experienced at different levels of severity. (...) When someone is severely food insecure, they have run out of food and gone a day or more without eating. In other words, they have most likely experienced hunger. (...) For those who are moderately food insecure, access to food is uncertain. They might have to sacrifice other basic needs, just to be able to eat. When they do eat, it might be whatever is most readily available or cheapest, which might not be the most nutritious food."
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
FAO, & IFAD, & UNICEF, & World Food Programme, & WHO. (August 2, 2024). Prevalence of food insecurity in Central America between 2021 and 2023, by country [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 03, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1402306/prevalence-food-insecurity-by-country-central-america/
FAO, und IFAD, und UNICEF, und World Food Programme, und WHO. "Prevalence of food insecurity in Central America between 2021 and 2023, by country." Chart. August 2, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1402306/prevalence-food-insecurity-by-country-central-america/
FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, World Food Programme, WHO. (2024). Prevalence of food insecurity in Central America between 2021 and 2023, by country. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1402306/prevalence-food-insecurity-by-country-central-america/
FAO, and IFAD, and UNICEF, and World Food Programme, and WHO. "Prevalence of Food Insecurity in Central America between 2021 and 2023, by Country." Statista, Statista Inc., 2 Aug 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1402306/prevalence-food-insecurity-by-country-central-america/
FAO & IFAD & UNICEF & World Food Programme & WHO, Prevalence of food insecurity in Central America between 2021 and 2023, by country Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1402306/prevalence-food-insecurity-by-country-central-america/ (last visited December 03, 2024)
Prevalence of food insecurity in Central America between 2021 and 2023, by country [Graph], FAO, & IFAD, & UNICEF, & World Food Programme, & WHO, August 2, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1402306/prevalence-food-insecurity-by-country-central-america/