Cape Verde Food Insecurity Surges: 1 in 3 People Affected
Severe food insecurity is on the rise in Cape Verde, reversing years of progress and leaving nearly one-third of the population struggling to afford basic nutrition, according to the latest report from the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
A Troubling Reversal
Data from the statistical report on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reveals that the prevalence of severe food insecurity climbed to 8.3% in 2024, a sharp increase from the 5.6% recorded just two years prior. While the country had seen a steady downward trend between 2018 and 2020, that momentum has shifted.
Moderate-to-severe food insecurity followed a similar pattern. Although the rate dropped from 41.1% in 2018 to 31.9% in 2022, it edged upward again to 32.2% in 2024. The INE emphasizes that this figure represents a significant portion of the archipelago’s population—roughly one in three people—who lack consistent economic access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food.
Rising Rates of Undernourishment
The report also highlights concerns regarding undernourishment, which measures the proportion of people whose food intake fails to meet minimum dietary energy requirements. While undernourishment rates fell steadily from 16.6% in 2015 to a low of 12.1% in 2021, the trend has since bounced back, reaching 13.5% in 2023.
Progress in Poverty Reduction
Despite the challenges in food security, the report noted significant success in other social indicators. The proportion of the population living below the international poverty line has been cut in half, falling from 4.6% in 2015 to 2.3% in 2022.
The findings are part of Cape Verde’s seventh statistical report on the SDGs, a set of 17 global goals established by the UN to be achieved by 2030. These goals include the eradication of poverty and a “zero hunger” target. The current data serves as a critical update on Cape Verde’s progress as the 2030 deadline approaches, signaling that while extreme poverty is declining, the fight against hunger remains a growing challenge for the island nation.
Image: Pexels – Thomas Schwaak
