Number of people who are undernourished in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Number of people who are undernourished was 260.10 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of people who are undernourished in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) is 260.10 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 55.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 260.10 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 153.10 million, in 2009.
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 7th of 42 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Number of people who are undernourished in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 165.70 million | — |
| 2002 | 166.30 million | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 166.70 million | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 164.70 million | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 161.40 million | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 157.60 million | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 155.60 million | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 153.60 million | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 153.10 million | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 153.80 million | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 156.50 million | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 160.10 million | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 166.90 million | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 172.00 million | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 180.70 million | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 189.10 million | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 196.80 million | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 204.20 million | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 217.90 million | +6.7% |
| 2020 | 234.70 million | +7.7% |
| 2021 | 246.00 million | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 250.50 million | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 260.10 million | +3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 160.52 million | 153.10 million | 166.70 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 179.80 million | 153.80 million | 217.90 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 247.82 million | 234.70 million | 260.10 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- 4 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 40.70 million compare
- 5 China 38.50 million compare
- 6 Ethiopia 25.40 million compare
- 7 Kenya 20.40 million compare
- 8 Bangladesh 17.90 million compare
- 9 Indonesia 17.70 million compare
- 10 Tanzania, United Republic of 13.40 million compare
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate 3.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, male, annual growth rate 3.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0125 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 10-14, male, per capita 0.0617 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 3.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0147 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, female, annual growth rate 2.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, female, per capita 0.054 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people who are undernourished in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Number of people who are undernourished in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 260.10 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 260.10 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 153.10 million in 2009.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for number of people who are undernourished?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 7th out of 42 groups with data for 2023.
- Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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.