Top 5 African Countries With the Worst Food Insecurity in 2025

Food insecurity in Africa is often caused by conflict, extreme weather, weak transport networks, and rising costs. 

Even though overall food production has grown, many families still struggle to find enough safe, affordable food. 

Below are the 5 countries facing the most pressure in 2025:

Nigeria

Nigeria has the largest number of people facing food insecurity in 2025. Violence in key farming areas disrupts planting and harvests, while floods and droughts affect yields across different regions.

Poor road networks and high transport costs make moving food from surplus states to deficit areas difficult. Currency weakness and fuel prices push up food costs, reducing what households can buy.

Democratic Republic of Congo

The DRC continues to face conflict and displacement across several provinces. Many farmers cannot plant or harvest safely, and getting food to markets is risky and expensive.

Weak roads and limited storage mean crops spoil easily. With low incomes and frequent disease outbreaks, families are highly exposed to price spikes and supply shocks.

Sudan

War has damaged farms, blocked supply routes, and forced millions to flee their homes. Markets are disrupted, food stocks are thin, and humanitarian access is limited in several areas.

Even where food is available, prices are often too high for many households, pushing them to skip meals or rely on less nutritious options.

Somalia

Somalia is hit by repeated droughts and occasional floods, leaving pastoral and farming communities with unstable incomes. Insecurity in parts of the country and high transport costs make regular market supply difficult. Many families rely on aid, remittances, and seasonal work, but climate extremes keep eroding these safety nets.

Ethiopia

Parts of Ethiopia face a mix of localised conflict, drought conditions, and high inflation. Farmers struggle with reduced rainfall and higher input costs, while weak transport in some regions slows the movement of grain from surplus to deficit zones. Urban families also feel the strain as rising prices eat into wages and savings.