Prevalence of undernourishment in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of

Korea, Democratic People's Republic of: Prevalence of undernourishment was 47.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
47.0%
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
3rd
of 168 countries
All-time high
47.5%
in 2017
All-time low
32.9%
in 2003
Years of data
18
2001–2018

Prevalence of undernourishment in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, 2001–2018

010203040502001200920182001: 35.9 % of population2002: 35.2 % of population2003: 32.9 % of population2004: 33.2 % of population2005: 34.5 % of population2006: 37 % of population2007: 39.1 % of population2008: 40.5 % of population2009: 42 % of population2010: 42.9 % of population2011: 43.4 % of population2012: 43.7 % of population2013: 43.7 % of population2014: 44.5 % of population2015: 45.2 % of population2016: 46 % of population2017: 47.5 % of population2018: 47 % of population

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of population.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of undernourishment in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of is 47.0%, measured in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 16.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of peaked at 47.5% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 32.9%, in 2003.

Korea, Democratic People's Republic of ranks 3rd of 168 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.

Prevalence of undernourishment in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, 2001 to 2018.
Year % of population Change
2001 35.9%
2002 35.2% -1.9%
2003 32.9% -6.5%
2004 33.2% +0.9%
2005 34.5% +3.9%
2006 37.0% +7.2%
2007 39.1% +5.7%
2008 40.5% +3.6%
2009 42.0% +3.7%
2010 42.9% +2.1%
2011 43.4% +1.2%
2012 43.7% +0.7%
2013 43.7% +0.0%
2014 44.5% +1.8%
2015 45.2% +1.6%
2016 46.0% +1.8%
2017 47.5% +3.3%
2018 47.0% -1.1%

Korea, Democratic People's Republic of compared with similar countries

  • Korea, Democratic People's Republic of's 47.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 24.1%, 2.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Korea, Democratic People's Republic of's 47.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.8%, 9.9× the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 36.7% 32.9% 42.0% 9
2010s 44.9% 42.9% 47.5% 9

Countries ranked near Korea, Democratic People's Republic of

  1. 1 Haiti 54.2% compare
  2. 2 Somalia 53.2% compare
  3. 4 Madagascar 39.5% compare
  4. 5 Syrian Arab Republic 39.0% compare
  5. 6 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 38.5% compare

See the full ranking of 215 places →

More health data for Korea, Democratic People's Republic of

All data for Korea, Democratic People's Republic of →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of undernourishment in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of?
Prevalence of undernourishment in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of was 47.0% in 2018, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of?
The highest recorded value was 47.5% in 2017.
What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of?
The lowest recorded value was 32.9% in 2003.
How does Korea, Democratic People's Republic of rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of ranks 3rd out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 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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Prevalence of undernourishment in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-undernourishment-percent-of-population/korea-dem-people-s-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population)
Unit
% of population
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
215 places, 4,908 data points, 2001–2023
Last refreshed

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%.