Prevalence of undernourishment in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Prevalence of undernourishment was 19.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of undernourishment in Ethiopia, 2001–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
In 2023, prevalence of undernourishment in Ethiopia stood at 19.7%.
The figure is down 2.5% on the previous year and up 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Ethiopia peaked at 46.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 13.0%, in 2016.
Ethiopia ranks 28th of 168 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment 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 | 23.9% | -9.1% |
| 2010 | 22.4% | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 21.2% | -5.4% |
| 2012 | 19.8% | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 17.7% | -10.6% |
| 2014 | 15.2% | -14.1% |
| 2015 | 13.6% | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 13.0% | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 14.1% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | 16.1% | +14.2% |
| 2019 | 18.5% | +14.9% |
| 2020 | 20.3% | +9.7% |
| 2021 | 20.6% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 20.2% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 19.7% | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.4% | 23.9% | 46.1% | 9 |
| 2010s | 17.2% | 13.0% | 22.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.2% | 19.7% | 20.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 25 Tanzania, United Republic of 20.2% compare
- 26 Solomon Islands 20.0% compare
- 27 Nigeria 19.9% compare
- 28 Zimbabwe 19.7% compare
- 30 Timor-Leste 18.7% compare
- 31 Namibia 18.1% compare
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 744.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 19,997 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per capita 0.0634 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, per capita 0.0658 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 10-14, female, annual growth rate 1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in Ethiopia?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in Ethiopia was 19.7% in 2023, 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 13.0% in 2016.
- How does Ethiopia rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- Ethiopia ranks 28th out of 168 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.3%. 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%.