Number of people who are undernourished in Least developed countries

Least developed countries: Number of people who are undernourished was 216.00 million in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
216.00 million
Change on year
up 2.3%
Rank
11th
of 40 groups
All-time high
216.00 million
in 2023
All-time low
157.00 million
in 2010
Years of data
23
2001–2023

Number of people who are undernourished in Least developed countries, 2001–2023

050.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M2001201220232001: 188.1M2002: 185.4M2003: 183.0M2004: 179.0M2005: 174.5M2006: 168.7M2007: 163.8M2008: 159.4M2009: 157.9M2010: 157.0M2011: 157.7M2012: 159.3M2013: 164.0M2014: 165.9M2015: 172.6M2016: 178.0M2017: 182.1M2018: 186.4M2019: 193.7M2020: 206.8M2021: 210.6M2022: 211.2M2023: 216.0M

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 Least developed countries is 216.00 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 31.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in Least developed countries peaked at 216.00 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 157.00 million, in 2010.

That places Least developed countries 11th out of 40 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Number of people who are undernourished in Least developed countries, year by year

Annual values for Number of people who are undernourished in Least developed countries, 2001 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2001 188.10 million
2002 185.40 million -1.4%
2003 183.00 million -1.3%
2004 179.00 million -2.2%
2005 174.50 million -2.5%
2006 168.70 million -3.3%
2007 163.80 million -2.9%
2008 159.40 million -2.7%
2009 157.90 million -0.9%
2010 157.00 million -0.6%
2011 157.70 million +0.4%
2012 159.30 million +1.0%
2013 164.00 million +3.0%
2014 165.90 million +1.2%
2015 172.60 million +4.0%
2016 178.00 million +3.1%
2017 182.10 million +2.3%
2018 186.40 million +2.4%
2019 193.70 million +3.9%
2020 206.80 million +6.8%
2021 210.60 million +1.8%
2022 211.20 million +0.3%
2023 216.00 million +2.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 173.31 million 157.90 million 188.10 million 9
2010s 171.67 million 157.00 million 193.70 million 10
2020s 211.15 million 206.80 million 216.00 million 4

Countries ranked near Least developed countries

  1. 8 Bangladesh 17.90 million compare
  2. 9 Indonesia 17.70 million compare
  3. 10 Tanzania, United Republic of 13.40 million compare
  4. 11 Madagascar 12.30 million compare
  5. 12 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 12.20 million compare
  6. 13 Afghanistan 11.70 million compare
  7. 14 Egypt 10.80 million compare

See the full ranking of 172 places →

More health data for Least developed countries

All data for Least developed countries →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of people who are undernourished in Least developed countries?
Number of people who are undernourished in Least developed countries was 216.00 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 Least developed countries?
The highest recorded value was 216.00 million in 2023.
What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in Least developed countries?
The lowest recorded value was 157.00 million in 2010.
How does Least developed countries rank for number of people who are undernourished?
Least developed countries ranks 11th out of 40 groups with data for 2023.
Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in Least developed countries?
Over the last ten years it is up 31.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Least developed countries 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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Number of people who are undernourished in Least developed countries. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-people-who-are-undernourished/least-developed-countries-un-classification/

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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

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.