Brazil Achieves Historic Low in Severe Food Insecurity in 2024
Brazil reduces severe food insecurity to historic lows in 2024, benefiting millions through expanded social programs and the Brazil Without Hunger Plan.
- • Severe food insecurity in Brazil dropped from 4.1% in 2023 to 3.2% in 2024, representing 2 million fewer people in hunger within a year.
- • Total of 26.5 million people have escaped severe food insecurity since 2023.
- • Households with food security increased from 72.4% to 75.8% in 2024, improving conditions for 8.8 million individuals.
- • Programs like Bolsa Família prioritize women and marginalized groups to reduce inequality and hunger.
- • Brazil exited the FAO Hunger Map in July 2024 after undernourishment fell below 2.5% of the population.
Key details
In 2024, Brazil marked a historic reduction in severe food insecurity, reaching the lowest levels since records began. According to data released on October 10 by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) through the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (Ebia), the proportion of households experiencing severe food insecurity dropped from 4.1% in 2023 to 3.2% in 2024. This translates to approximately two million people moving out of hunger within a single year, totaling 26.5 million people over two years who have escaped severe food insecurity.
The improvement was widespread across rural and urban areas in all regions, with the percentage of households with food security rising from 72.4% in 2023 to 75.8% in 2024, representing an additional 8.8 million people experiencing better food security. Levels of mild and moderate food insecurity also declined. These positive outcomes coincide with Brazil’s exit from the FAO Hunger Map in July 2024, when undernourishment fell below 2.5% of the population.
This progress is largely attributed to the Brazil Without Hunger Plan, launched in 2023, featuring 80 actions and over 100 targets focused on increasing income for food purchases, enhancing social protection, expanding access to healthy and sustainable food, and mobilizing society against hunger. Efforts include prioritizing women through social programs like Bolsa Família, which supports women, especially black, brown, single mothers, and peripheral residents, recognizing their crucial role in household financial management.
The Program for Food Acquisition (PAA) was also revamped in 2023 to ensure at least 50% participation by women. Food security improvements were notably higher in households with children under five and elderly members, with 68.9% and 78.2% food security rates respectively in 2024.
Minister Wellington Dias celebrated these achievements, highlighting that 2025 will mark Brazil’s anniversary of exiting the Hunger Map and achieving the lowest level of severe food insecurity in IBGE’s historical data. Valéria Burity, the Secretary for Combating Poverty and Hunger, emphasized the importance of science-based policies in achieving these results and pointed out the significant reduction in hunger since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government began. The studies underpinning these conclusions showcase a strong commitment to addressing food insecurity and inequality through evidence-based social programs and multisectoral initiatives.