Istat: 1.28 million people in Italy faced food insecurity in 2025
Istat's World Food Day release says 2.2% of Italy's resident population experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2025. The rate was 2.9% in the south and 1.8% in both the north and centre.
Event / data period:
Published: · Updated:
Italy's National Institute of Statistics (Istat) reported in an infographic published for World Food Day on October 16 that 2.2% of the country's resident population experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2025, about 1.28 million people. Istat defines the measure as economic inability to eat regularly, maintain a healthy and balanced diet, or obtain enough food for basic needs. It is based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES).
The rate varied by region: 2.9% in southern Italy and 1.8% in both the centre and north. The share of people unable to access an adequate diet was 9.3% in 2025, up 1.4 percentage points from 2021. These indicators describe household access to food; they are not measures of agricultural output or food prices.
Data
Food access indicators in Italy, 2025
Istat's 2025 EU-SILC measures of food insecurity and access to an adequate diet.
- Population experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity, 2025
- 2.2 percent
- 2025 · Observed
- Population without access to an adequate diet, 2025
- 9.3 percent
- 2025 · Observed
Methodology
The source uses 2025 EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC). Moderate or severe food insecurity is measured with the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). Values are shares of Italy's resident population.
Updated:
Subjects and places
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- AgricultureSuggested
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- Italy · Place role: Coverage · Place type: Country or area · Location precision: RegionalEvidence
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