How food insecure are people living in Australia

Chandana Maitra (chandana.maitra@sydney.edu.au)

No 2024-14, Working Papers from University of Sydney, School of Economics

Abstract: Australia reports food security statistics using a single item measure which potentially underestimates prevalence of food insecurity. In this paper, I provide population prevalence estimates of food insecurity using fresh data on Food Insecurity Experience Scale, a cross-culturally validated eight-item measure of economic access to food reported, for the first time, in 2020 in Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. First, I report cross-nationally comparable prevalence estimates based on the common thresholds set on a global reference scale developed by the UN Food & Agricultural Organization. Based on this approach, in 2020, one in sixteen people experienced moderate to severe food insecurity and one in twentynine people experienced severe food insecurity. Next, I use Australia-specific thresholds on the national scale to generate prevalence estimates which are more meaningful for the purpose of policy related communications within Australia. Accordingly, in 2020, one in eleven people were food insecure, of which one in fourteen people were moderately food insecure and one in forty-seven people were severely food insecure. South Australia and Queensland are the most food insecure states closely followed by Tasmania. Certain subpopulations such as people with low income, First Nations people, young adults, lone persons are at higher risks of food insecurity. FIES is a valid and reliable tool to measure food insecurity in Australia. Findings indicate that household level measure of food insecurity may conceal intrahousehold hunger and confirm the general concern that single-item measures underestimate food insecurity.

Date: 2024-07, Revised 2024-08
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