Italiano
Food insecurity primarily affects young people under 35 who live alone. The most common indicators, according to the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), are the need to limit food variety (4.3%) and worry about not having enough food (2.5%).
The most severe forms — such as skipping a full day of meals — remain below 1%.
Regional Differences and Foreign Citizens
Significant regional differences emerge: the South records an incidence of 2.7%, compared to 0.6% in the North and 0.8% in the Center. The situation for foreign citizens is also more critical: 1.8% experience moderate or severe food insecurity, compared to 1.3% of Italians.
Decade Trends: Progress and Challenges
Despite current difficulties, the analysis of the past decade shows significant progress: the most acute forms of food insecurity have decreased from 8.9% in 2014 to 2.7% in 2024.
European Comparison and Global Data
In the European comparison, Italy ranks 19th, with lower percentages than Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Romania, but higher than Germany and France. Globally, FAO estimates that 28% of the world population lives in moderate or severe food insecurity, with dramatic peaks in Africa (58.9%).
Source: 2024 Food Insecurity Report — Istat; FAO data. The report coincides with World Food and Agriculture Day and the 80th anniversary of FAO.