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Primary Submission Category: Socioeconomic status

Global Trends in Food Insecurity in High- and Low-Income Countries, 2009-2023

Authors:  Susan Osayande, Thomas Fuller-Rowell,

Presenting Author: Susan Osayande*

Background: Food insecurity among disadvantaged socioeconomic groups is a major public health concern, and a key focus of the United Nations sustainable development goals. However, little is known about how food insecurity has evolved globally over the past 15 years, particularly across high- and low- income countries. Understanding these trends is crucial for developing targeted policies to reduce food insecurity around the world.

Methods: We conducted a multilevel analysis using Gallup World Poll data to examine food insecurity trends in 162 countries from 2009 to 2023. Food insecurity was measured as the proportion of individuals in the bottom 60% of the income distribution who reported that there were times in the past 12 months that their family was unable to afford food.  Approximately  1,000 respondents were sampled within each country at each time point (approximately 600 in the bottom 60% income group). Countries were categorized into World Bank income-level classifications: low (n = 23), lower-middle (n = 40), upper-middle (n = 45), and high (n = 54).

Results:  The global average level of food insecurity in 2009 was 38.2% (95% CI [34.8%, 41.5%]). The slope estimate indicated an 8.96-unit global increase in food insecurity across the 15-year period (95% CI [6.4%, 11.48%], p < .001), a 23.5% increase. Food insecurity trends differed substantially across income classifications, with the gap between low- and high-income countries widening from 37.5% points in 2009 to 54.28% points in 2023 (p < .001), a 44.7% increase.

Conclusion: The results suggest a global crisis in food insecurity around the world, with large magnitude increases on levels and cross-country disparities over the past 15 years. The rise in food insecurity, particularly within lower-income countries, highlights the urgent need for targeted policies and immediate action.