Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) was 19.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of undernourishment in Ethiopia, 2001–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of undernourishment in Ethiopia stood at 19.9%.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Ethiopia peaked at 46.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 13.6%, in 2016.
Ethiopia ranks 26th of 171 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 46.1% | — |
| 2002 | 43.2% | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 41.6% | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 39.1% | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 36.4% | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 32.7% | -10.2% |
| 2007 | 29.4% | -10.1% |
| 2008 | 26.3% | -10.5% |
| 2009 | 24.3% | -7.6% |
| 2010 | 23.1% | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 22.2% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 20.7% | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 18.4% | -11.1% |
| 2014 | 15.6% | -15.2% |
| 2015 | 14.0% | -10.3% |
| 2016 | 13.6% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 14.7% | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 16.6% | +12.9% |
| 2019 | 18.7% | +12.7% |
| 2020 | 20.3% | +8.6% |
| 2021 | 20.8% | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 20.6% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 20.6% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 19.9% | -3.4% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 19.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 23.6%, 85% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 19.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.8%, 1.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.5% | 24.3% | 46.1% | 9 |
| 2010s | 17.8% | 13.6% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.4% | 19.9% | 20.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More health data for Ethiopia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9494 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 19,997 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 148 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0709 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0742 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in Ethiopia?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in Ethiopia was 19.9% in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 46.1% in 2001.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.6% in 2016.
- How does Ethiopia rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- Ethiopia ranks 26th out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of undernourishment is the percentage of the population whose habitual food consumption is insufficient to provide the dietary energy levels that are required to maintain a normal active and healthy life. Data showing as 2.5 may signify a prevalence of undernourishment below 2.5%.