High food inflation, a recurring economic problem, causes tremendous problems for individuals, communities, and nations as a whole, particularly in Africa, given its status as a developing country. As the cost of basic food goods grows, the implications ripple across many aspects of daily life, impacting vulnerable populations and straining economies.
Several African countries had some type of food crisis in 2023. Given the continent’s multiple domestic and external economic issues, several regions experienced food shortages, either as a result of low local production or difficulty importing foods.
Climate change, whether in the form of droughts or floods, has damaged the continent’s food sector. Intra-continental trade was hampered by trade obstacles and policies, while production and storage at the grassroots level were underutilized.
While this does not tell the whole story, given that some African countries were able to overcome these obstacles, there is no doubt that food insecurity was a serious concern on the continent.
The World Bank’s Food Security Update study indicates that 31.7 million people in West and Central Africa needed immediate food and nutrition support from October to December 2023 (IPC Phase 3+). Without effective countermeasures, this figure might rise to 44.5 million during the lean season of June-August 2024.”
With that stated, these are the African countries with the highest food inflation in 2023.
Rank | Country | Food inflation% (January 2023) | Food inflation% (current) |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Egypt | 47.9 | 60.5 |
2. | Sierra Leone | 47.5 | 59.2 |
3. | Malawi | 30.5 | 41.7 |
4. | Zimbabwe | 264.0 | 38.3 |
5. | Burundi | 41.3 | 34.4 |
6. | Nigeria | 24.3 | 33.9 |
7. | Ethiopia | 33.6 | 30.0 |
8. | Ghana | 61.0 | 28.7 |
9. | Gambia | 16.9 | 23.6 |
10. | Democratic Republic of Congo | 13.6 | 18.9 |