Number of people who are undernourished in Kenya
Kenya: Number of people who are undernourished was 20.40 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of people who are undernourished in Kenya, 2001–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home).
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people who are undernourished in Kenya is 20.40 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 140.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in Kenya peaked at 20.40 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8.40 million, in 2012.
That places Kenya 7th out of 130 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Number of people who are undernourished in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 10.10 million | — |
| 2002 | 10.90 million | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 11.60 million | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 11.00 million | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 10.00 million | -9.1% |
| 2006 | 9.50 million | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 10.20 million | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 10.50 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 9.80 million | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 9.00 million | -8.2% |
| 2011 | 8.50 million | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 8.40 million | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 8.50 million | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 8.70 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 9.80 million | +12.6% |
| 2016 | 10.70 million | +9.2% |
| 2017 | 11.60 million | +8.4% |
| 2018 | 11.50 million | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 12.10 million | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 13.70 million | +13.2% |
| 2021 | 16.80 million | +22.6% |
| 2022 | 19.20 million | +14.3% |
| 2023 | 20.40 million | +6.2% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 20.40 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.60 million, 12.8× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 20.40 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.10 million, 9.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.40 million | 9.50 million | 11.60 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 9.88 million | 8.40 million | 12.10 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.52 million | 13.70 million | 20.40 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 16,059 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.063 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people who are undernourished in Kenya?
- Number of people who are undernourished in Kenya was 20.40 million in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home).
- What is the highest number of people who are undernourished recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 20.40 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.40 million in 2012.
- How does Kenya rank for number of people who are undernourished?
- Kenya ranks 7th out of 130 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 140.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home), published as part of Number of people who are undernourished. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.