Food insecurity on the rise in Australia: the need for more effective responses
How food insecurity is measured
Food insecurity ranges from worrying about having enough to eat to reducing food intake, skipping meals or going without food. Different surveys produce different estimates: Foodbank put the share of Australian households experiencing some degree of food insecurity at one in three in 2025. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated 13.2% in 2023, using a national nutrition survey that has not been updated.
The analysis uses an eight-question measure developed by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and included in the 2020 and 2024 HILDA surveys. Around 15,000 people responded. Severe food insecurity is defined as answering yes to at least seven questions; HILDA’s repeated surveys also allow researchers to track changes for the same people over time.
Rates vary across cities and regions
Nationally, severe food insecurity rose from 2.1% in 2020 to 3.0% in 2024. Perth’s rate more than doubled, from 1.35% to 2.79%. Adelaide had the highest rate in both years, increasing from 3.11% to 4.70%. Sydney and Melbourne also saw increases, while Brisbane’s rate edged down from 2.63% to 2.49%.
Rates generally rise with remoteness, though regional communities are not affected uniformly. Victoria differed from this pattern in 2024: Melbourne recorded 2.82%, compared with 2.00% in inner regional Victoria, while outer regional Victoria had a higher rate. HILDA’s regional sample is small and could underestimate food insecurity.
Families face distinct pressures
People in single-parent families with children experienced the highest levels. Severe food insecurity among them rose from 11.57% to 13.68%. For single-parent families with older children over 15, the rate climbed from 1.73% to 4.42%.
Single parents may need to cover household costs on one income, while caring responsibilities can make it harder to work more hours. Among couples with children, severe food insecurity jumped almost 87%, with a smaller rise for those with older children. Housing costs, debt, insecure work or illness can strain these households’ budgets too.
Local pressures shape the risk
The differences across places may reflect housing costs, job opportunities, food access and prices, transport and services. Regional areas with agricultural activity can still experience food insecurity, and conditions vary between communities.
Food insecurity is not evenly distributed among households. The rise in severe cases, alongside the concentration of risk among some family types, points to the importance of understanding where need is greatest when shaping support and policy.
Key points
- Severe food insecurity rose around 40% nationally from 2020 to 2024.
- Adelaide had the highest severe food insecurity rate among major cities in both years.
- Single-parent families with children recorded the highest levels.
- Regional rates differ, and HILDA’s small regional sample may underestimate the problem.