One in four Brazilian households presented some degree of food insecurity in 2023, which means that residents did not know whether they would have enough or adequate food on the table, according to data from PNAD Contínua Food Security released on Thursday (25/04). In total, around 64.1 million people lived in these households, with 11.9 million of them facing an even more dramatic situation and another 8.6 million on the verge of hunger.
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Improvement in the Scenario
Although the numbers are alarming, the number of food-secure households has increased in recent years. Last year, 72.4% of households in Brazil were food secure. This number represents 151.9 million Brazilians. In the previous survey, carried out in the 2017-2018 biennium, there were 63.3% of households.
According to IBGE, the reasons for this improvement are related to factors such as investment in social programs, economic recovery, and food prices.
Moderate x Severe
IBGE selected the 27.6% of households with some degree of insecurity:
- Light: 18.2% of households;
- Moderate: 5.3% of households;
- Severe: 4.1% of households.
Children and Elderly
IBGE identified that 37.4% of children up to 4 years old lived in households with some type of food insecurity. In the age group between 5 and 17 years old, this number is slightly lower: 36.6%. Between 18 and 49 years old, the percentage was 29%, while the group between 50 and 64 years old registered 26.8%. The lowest proportion of people living under some type of food insecurity was in the age group over 65 years old – 20.9%.
North and Northeast
When analyzing the regions of the country, IBGE concluded that the North and Northeast had much higher proportions of households with moderate or severe food insecurity than other regions in 2023:
- 16% in the North
- 14.8% in the Northeast
- 7.9% in the Midwest
- 6.7% in the Southeast
- 4.7% in the South
Pará led the ranking of states with restricted access to adequate food, followed by Amapá, Sergipe, and Maranhão.
Expansion of Social Programs Helped
The expansion of social programs, including Bolsa Família, is one of the factors that may have helped reduce the level of food insecurity in the country in 2023. The drop in food prices in 2023 may also have provided some relief to families that year, as the cost associated with disposable income directly influences access to food.
Historically, school lunch programs have been an important factor in reducing food insecurity in families with children.
Analysis:
Data on food insecurity in Brazil in 2023 reveals a complex situation, closely related to the country’s economic stability and public security. The improvement in the food insecurity scenario can be attributed to a series of economic factors and public policies. Investments in social programs, such as Bolsa Família, play a crucial role in providing financial assistance to families in situations of economic vulnerability. Furthermore, economic recovery and stabilization of food prices also contribute significantly to reducing food insecurity.
However, it is important to recognize that the relationship between food insecurity and public security cannot be ignored. Food shortages and economic instability can increase levels of social discontent, contributing to social instability and even increased crime.
