Number of people who are undernourished in North Korea
North Korea: Number of people who are undernourished was 12.20 million in 2018. ▲ Rising
Number of people who are undernourished in North Korea, 2001–2018
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home).
Analysis
North Korea recorded 12.20 million for number of people who are undernourished in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in North Korea peaked at 12.30 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 7.90 million, in 2003.
North Korea ranks 12th of 130 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Number of people who are undernourished in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 8.60 million | — |
| 2002 | 8.40 million | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 7.90 million | -6.0% |
| 2004 | 8.00 million | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 8.40 million | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 9.10 million | +8.3% |
| 2007 | 9.60 million | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 10.00 million | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 10.40 million | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 10.70 million | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 10.90 million | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 11.00 million | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 11.10 million | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 11.30 million | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 11.50 million | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 11.80 million | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 12.30 million | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 12.20 million | -0.8% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 12.20 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.30 million, 2.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 12.20 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 300,000, 40.7× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.93 million | 7.90 million | 10.40 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 11.42 million | 10.70 million | 12.30 million | 9 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More health data for North Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 767 (2100)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2022)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2022)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate -0.1528 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.6836 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.073 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people who are undernourished in North Korea?
- Number of people who are undernourished in North Korea was 12.20 million in 2018, 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 12.30 million in 2017.
- What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.90 million in 2003.
- How does North Korea rank for number of people who are undernourished?
- North Korea ranks 12th out of 130 countries with data for 2018.
- Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea 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.