Chapter 1 Sustainable development goal 2.1: undernourishment and food insecurity
Progress was made in Latin America and the Caribbean in the fight against hunger and food insecurity, driven by improvements in South America. Between 2021 and 2022, a decrease was observed in the prevalence of both conditions in South America, while in Mesoamerica the prevalence of hunger remained the same and the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity increased slightly. In the Caribbean, the prevalence of both conditions increased.
Hunger affected 6.5 percent (43.2 million people) of the population in the region. In addition, the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity was higher than the world estimate.
Globally, the prevalence of hunger remained relatively stable between 2021 and 2022, affecting 9.2 percent of the world population in 2022. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the prevalence decreased from 7 percent in 2021 to 6.5 percent in 2022, but it was still 0.9 percentage point above the level registered in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity was higher in the region compared to the world estimate. In 2022, 37.5 percent of the region's population was affected, compared to 29.6 percent globally. However, the prevalence of this condition in the region decreased compared to the previous year, while worldwide it remained constant.
In 2022, 247.8 million people in the region experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, which represents a decrease of 16.5 million people compared to the previous year. By subregion, this estimate includes 159 million people in South America, 61.9 million in Mesoamerica and 26.9 million in the Caribbean.
Severe food insecurity affected 12.6 percent of the population (83.4 million people) in the region. In South America, the prevalence was 12.7 percent (55.4 million people), in Mesoamerica it was 8.6 percent (15.4 million), and in the Caribbean 28.2 percent (12.5 million).
Persistent inequalities in the region have a significant impact on the food security of the most vulnerable. The prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity continues to affect women more than men; the gender gap narrowed in the region between 2021 and 2022 but was still 9.1 percentage points. In addition, moderate or severe food insecurity was 8.3 percentage points higher in rural areas than in urban areas in 2022.