Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Libya
Libya: Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) was 18.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of undernourishment in Libya, 2001–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of undernourishment in Libya stood at 18.7%. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 92.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Libya peaked at 18.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2001.
Libya ranks 30th of 171 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Libya, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3.7% | — |
| 2002 | 4.0% | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 4.6% | +7.0% |
| 2005 | 4.9% | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 5.2% | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 5.5% | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 5.9% | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 6.3% | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 7.1% | +12.7% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | +12.7% |
| 2012 | 8.9% | +11.3% |
| 2013 | 9.5% | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 9.7% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 10.1% | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 10.4% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 11.0% | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 11.4% | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 12.7% | +11.4% |
| 2020 | 14.1% | +11.0% |
| 2021 | 15.6% | +10.6% |
| 2022 | 16.5% | +5.8% |
| 2023 | 17.9% | +8.5% |
| 2024 | 18.7% | +4.5% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 18.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.1%, 4.6× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Libya's 18.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7.1%, 2.6× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.9% | 3.7% | 6.3% | 9 |
| 2010s | 9.9% | 7.1% | 12.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.6% | 14.1% | 18.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More health data for Libya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 133 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0404 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0427 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in Libya?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in Libya was 18.7% in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 18.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2001.
- How does Libya rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- Libya ranks 30th out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 92.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya 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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CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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%.