Number of people who are undernourished by country
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.
Countries reporting
130
Highest
172.10 million
India
Lowest
100,000
Samoa
Median
950,000
Years covered
23
2001–2023
Data points
3,649
What the numbers show
Number of people who are undernourished is currently reported for 130 countries. The highest value is 172.10 million in India; the lowest is 100,000 in Samoa.
The median across all reporting countries is 950,000, and the mean is 5.28 million.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 1,721.
Over the past decade 56 countries rose and 41 fell. The largest increase was in Syria (up 384.2%), and the largest decrease in Republic of Moldova (down 91.7%).
Number of people who are undernourished: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 172.10 million | 2023 | up 3.4% | falling |
| 2 | Nigeria | 45.40 million | 2023 | up 119.3% | rising |
| 3 | Pakistan | 40.90 million | 2023 | up 31.5% | rising |
| 4 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 40.70 million | 2023 | up 74.7% | rising |
| 5 | China | 38.50 million | 2009 | down 69.8% | falling |
| 6 | Ethiopia | 25.40 million | 2023 | up 46.0% | falling |
| 7 | Kenya | 20.40 million | 2023 | up 140.0% | rising |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 17.90 million | 2023 | down 31.7% | falling |
| 9 | Indonesia | 17.70 million | 2023 | down 16.9% | falling |
| 10 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 13.40 million | 2023 | up 30.1% | rising |
| 11 | Madagascar | 12.30 million | 2023 | up 68.5% | rising |
| 12 | North Korea | 12.20 million | 2018 | up 22.0% | rising |
| 13 | Afghanistan | 11.70 million | 2023 | up 91.8% | rising |
| 14 | Egypt | 10.80 million | 2023 | up 86.2% | rising |
| 15 | Uganda | 10.70 million | 2023 | up 42.7% | rising |
| 16 | Somalia | 9.80 million | 2023 | up 19.5% | rising |
| 17 | Syria | 9.20 million | 2023 | up 384.2% | volatile |
| 18 | Angola | 8.30 million | 2023 | up 137.1% | falling |
| 19 | Zambia | 7.70 million | 2023 | up 28.3% | rising |
| 20 | Mozambique | 7.30 million | 2023 | up 10.6% | rising |
| 21 | Brazil | 6.70 million | 2022 | up 26.4% | falling |
| 21 | Iraq | 6.70 million | 2023 | up 28.8% | rising |
| 23 | Haiti | 6.30 million | 2023 | up 57.5% | rising |
| 23 | South Africa | 6.30 million | 2023 | up 103.2% | rising |
| 25 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 6.20 million | 2023 | down 3.1% | rising |
| 25 | Chad | 6.20 million | 2023 | up 87.9% | rising |
| 27 | Sudan | 5.30 million | 2021 | up 60.6% | rising |
| 27 | Viet Nam | 5.30 million | 2023 | down 30.3% | falling |
| 29 | Malawi | 4.50 million | 2023 | up 87.5% | rising |
| 30 | Côte d'Ivoire | 3.50 million | 2023 | down 5.4% | falling |
| 30 | Mexico | 3.50 million | 2023 | down 20.5% | rising |
| 32 | Niger | 3.40 million | 2023 | up 25.9% | rising |
| 32 | Philippines | 3.40 million | 2023 | down 75.5% | falling |
| 32 | Rwanda | 3.40 million | 2023 | down 15.0% | rising |
| 35 | Thailand | 3.30 million | 2023 | down 45.9% | falling |
| 36 | Zimbabwe | 3.20 million | 2023 | down 27.3% | rising |
| 37 | Burkina Faso | 3.00 million | 2023 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 37 | Papua New Guinea | 3.00 million | 2023 | up 30.4% | rising |
| 39 | Mali | 2.90 million | 2023 | up 222.2% | rising |
| 39 | Myanmar | 2.90 million | 2023 | down 9.4% | volatile |
| 41 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 2.70 million | 2023 | up 42.1% | falling |
| 41 | Ukraine | 2.70 million | 2023 | up 125.0% | rising |
| 43 | Morocco | 2.60 million | 2023 | up 85.7% | rising |
| 44 | Peru | 2.30 million | 2023 | up 35.3% | falling |
| 44 | Türkiye | 2.30 million | 2008 | down 73.3% | falling |
| 46 | Ecuador | 2.20 million | 2023 | up 57.1% | falling |
| 47 | Ghana | 2.10 million | 2023 | down 4.5% | falling |
| 47 | Guatemala | 2.10 million | 2023 | down 12.5% | falling |
| 49 | Benin | 2.00 million | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 49 | Colombia | 2.00 million | 2023 | down 39.4% | falling |
| 49 | Liberia | 2.00 million | 2023 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 49 | Sierra Leone | 2.00 million | 2023 | up 25.0% | falling |
| 53 | Sri Lanka | 1.70 million | 2023 | down 10.5% | falling |
| 53 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 1.70 million | 2023 | up 41.7% | volatile |
| 55 | Central African Republic | 1.60 million | 2023 | up 14.3% | flat |
| 55 | Congo | 1.60 million | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 55 | Guinea | 1.60 million | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 55 | Honduras | 1.60 million | 2023 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 55 | Jordan | 1.60 million | 2023 | up 128.6% | volatile |
| 55 | Nepal | 1.60 million | 2023 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 61 | Argentina | 1.50 million | 2023 | up 7.1% | rising |
| 62 | Cameroon | 1.40 million | 2023 | up 55.6% | falling |
| 63 | Libya | 1.20 million | 2023 | up 100.0% | volatile |
| 63 | Nicaragua | 1.20 million | 2022 | up 20.0% | falling |
| 65 | Algeria | 1.00 million | 2017 | down 44.4% | falling |
| 66 | Cambodia | 900,000 | 2023 | down 30.8% | falling |
| 66 | Malaysia | 900,000 | 2020 | down 10.0% | rising |
| 66 | Senegal | 900,000 | 2023 | down 40.0% | falling |
| 66 | Tajikistan | 900,000 | 2023 | down 47.1% | falling |
| 70 | Saudi Arabia | 800,000 | 2014 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 70 | Togo | 800,000 | 2023 | down 42.9% | falling |
| 70 | Uzbekistan | 800,000 | 2011 | down 83.3% | volatile |
| 73 | Botswana | 600,000 | 2023 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 73 | Gabon | 600,000 | 2023 | up 200.0% | rising |
| 75 | Chile | 500,000 | 2023 | down 16.7% | rising |
| 75 | Gambia | 500,000 | 2023 | up 150.0% | rising |
| 75 | Guinea-Bissau | 500,000 | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 75 | Lebanon | 500,000 | 2023 | up 66.7% | rising |
| 75 | Namibia | 500,000 | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 80 | Dominican Republic | 400,000 | 2023 | down 55.6% | falling |
| 80 | Kazakhstan | 400,000 | 2013 | down 63.6% | falling |
| 80 | Kyrgyzstan | 400,000 | 2023 | unchanged | falling |
| 80 | Mauritania | 400,000 | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 80 | Paraguay | 400,000 | 2023 | up 100.0% | falling |
| 80 | El Salvador | 400,000 | 2023 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 80 | Tunisia | 400,000 | 2023 | up 33.3% | falling |
| 87 | Azerbaijan | 300,000 | 2006 | down 80.0% | falling |
| 87 | Belarus | 300,000 | 2005 | — | flat |
| 87 | Oman | 300,000 | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 87 | Panama | 300,000 | 2023 | unchanged | falling |
| 87 | Turkmenistan | 300,000 | 2023 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 87 | Timor-Leste | 300,000 | 2023 | up 50.0% | falling |
| 93 | Albania | 200,000 | 2023 | up 100.0% | falling |
| 93 | United Arab Emirates | 200,000 | 2020 | down 50.0% | rising |
| 93 | Bulgaria | 200,000 | 2020 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 93 | Hong Kong | 200,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 93 | Jamaica | 200,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 93 | Solomon Islands | 200,000 | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 93 | Serbia | 200,000 | 2005 | — | falling |
| 93 | Slovakia | 200,000 | 2023 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 93 | Eswatini | 200,000 | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 93 | Trinidad and Tobago | 200,000 | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 103 | Armenia | 100,000 | 2009 | down 88.9% | volatile |
| 103 | Belize | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Barbados | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Comoros | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Cape Verde | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Costa Rica | 100,000 | 2014 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 103 | Cyprus | 100,000 | 2007 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Djibouti | 100,000 | 2023 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 103 | Dominica | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Fiji | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Georgia | 100,000 | 2022 | down 66.7% | falling |
| 103 | Guyana | 100,000 | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Croatia | 100,000 | 2011 | down 80.0% | volatile |
| 103 | Kiribati | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Macao | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Republic of Moldova | 100,000 | 2016 | down 91.7% | volatile |
| 103 | North Macedonia | 100,000 | 2021 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Montenegro | 100,000 | 2006 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Mongolia | 100,000 | 2021 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 103 | Mauritius | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | New Caledonia | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | French Polynesia | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Sao Tome and Principe | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Suriname | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Seychelles | 100,000 | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Vanuatu | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Samoa | 100,000 | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- World 685.60 million
- Euro area 200,000
- European Union 200,000
- IDA & IBRD total 616.00 million
- Low & middle income 614.90 million
- Middle income 455.20 million
- Lower middle income 381.60 million
- Early-demographic dividend 359.20 million
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 260.10 million
- Sub-Saharan Africa 260.10 million
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 260.10 million
- Pre-demographic dividend 236.20 million
- Least developed countries 216.00 million
- Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 194.10 million
- South Asia 193.30 million
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 193.30 million
- Africa Eastern and Southern 177.60 million
- Low income 159.70 million
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 92.20 million
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 91.90 million
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 91.90 million
- Africa Western and Central 82.50 million
- Upper middle income 73.60 million
- Arab World 43.70 million
- East Asia & Pacific 38.80 million
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 37.40 million
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 37.40 million
- Latin America & Caribbean 28.80 million
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 28.80 million
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 27.70 million
- Late-demographic dividend 18.30 million
- OECD members 6.20 million
- Europe & Central Asia 4.70 million
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 4.50 million
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 4.50 million
- Post-demographic dividend 3.10 million
- High income 3.00 million
- Small states 2.30 million
- Other small states 1.00 million
- Caribbean Small States 700,000
About this data
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.