Which has higher number of people who are undernourished, China or Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), at 260.10 million against 38.50 million in China as of 2023.

What is the difference in number of people who are undernourished between China and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?

221.60 million, with Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for China and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?

9 years are reported by both, from 2001 to 2009.

Where does this data come from?

Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home), published as Number of people who are undernourished. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

China vs Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Number of people who are undernourished

China

38.50 million

in 2009

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

260.10 million

in 2023

China rank

5th

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank

7th

Number of people who are undernourished over time

China
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) currently reports 260.10 million against 38.50 million in China, a difference of 221.60 million.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)'s figure about 6.8 times China's.

Across all 9 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) has been ahead every year.

China ranks 5th and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 7th of 130 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) has averaged higher in every one of the 1 decades both report.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher number of people who are undernourished, China or Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?: Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), at 260.10 million against 38.50 million in China as of 2023.
What is the difference in number of people who are undernourished between China and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?: 221.60 million, with Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?: 9 years are reported by both, from 2001 to 2009.
How do China and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank globally for number of people who are undernourished?: China ranks 5th and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 7th of 130 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home), published as Number of people who are undernourished. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Number of people who are undernourished. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/number-of-people-who-are-undernourished/china/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-high-income/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/compare/number-of-people-who-are-undernourished/china/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-high-income/">China vs Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Number of people who are undernourished</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Number of people who are undernourished
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 172 places, 3,649 data points, 2001–2023
Last refreshed: 03 September 2026

Number of people who are undernourished shows the number of people whose habitual food consumption is insufficient to provide the dietary energy levels that are required to maintain a normal active and healthy life.