Number of people who are undernourished in South Asia
South Asia: Number of people who are undernourished was 193.30 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Number of people who are undernourished in South Asia, 2001–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home).
Analysis
South Asia recorded 193.30 million for number of people who are undernourished in 2023.
That represents a change of down 9.2% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in South Asia peaked at 275.60 million in 2004 and was at its lowest, 166.90 million, in 2018.
That places South Asia 13th out of 42 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Number of people who are undernourished in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 225.30 million | — |
| 2002 | 245.40 million | +8.9% |
| 2003 | 265.90 million | +8.4% |
| 2004 | 275.60 million | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 273.00 million | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 251.80 million | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 227.50 million | -9.7% |
| 2008 | 216.10 million | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 216.80 million | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 214.30 million | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 211.20 million | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 202.60 million | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 196.90 million | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 193.30 million | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 188.50 million | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 181.40 million | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 168.10 million | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 166.90 million | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 184.50 million | +10.5% |
| 2020 | 208.60 million | +13.1% |
| 2021 | 221.60 million | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 213.00 million | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 193.30 million | -9.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 244.16 million | 216.10 million | 275.60 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 190.77 million | 166.90 million | 214.30 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 209.12 million | 193.30 million | 221.60 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 10 Tanzania, United Republic of 13.40 million compare
- 11 Madagascar 12.30 million compare
- 12 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 12.20 million compare
- 13 Afghanistan 11.70 million compare
- 14 Egypt 10.80 million compare
- 15 Uganda 10.70 million compare
- 16 Somalia 9.80 million compare
More health data for South Asia
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 6.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, annual growth rate 4.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0058 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 6.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people who are undernourished in South Asia?
- Number of people who are undernourished in South Asia was 193.30 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 275.60 million in 2004.
- What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 166.90 million in 2018.
- How does South Asia rank for number of people who are undernourished?
- South Asia ranks 13th out of 42 groups with data for 2023.
- Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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.