High food prices have significantly worsened food security in Pakistan. In 2008, 72 million people (51 percent of the population) were food insecure and consumed less than 2,100 kcal per day. Since 2005-06 the food insecure population has increased by 12 million. The number of severely food insecure (consuming less than 1,700 kcal per day) has risen by 9.6 million to 45.3 million people (28 percent of the population). Two thirds of these new severely food insecure people live in rural areas.