Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) was 12.3% in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
12.3%
Change on year
down 2.8%
Rank
16th
of 47 groups
All-time high
13.0%
in 2002
All-time low
9.1%
in 2016
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Prevalence of undernourishment in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 2001–2024

0510152001201220242001: 12.9 % of population2002: 13 % of population2003: 12.6 % of population2004: 11.8 % of population2005: 11.1 % of population2006: 10.5 % of population2007: 10.1 % of population2008: 9.9 % of population2009: 9.9 % of population2010: 10 % of population2011: 10.1 % of population2012: 10.2 % of population2013: 10 % of population2014: 9.8 % of population2015: 9.6 % of population2016: 9.1 % of population2017: 9.4 % of population2018: 9.4 % of population2019: 10.4 % of population2020: 10.9 % of population2021: 12.4 % of population2022: 12.6 % of population2023: 12.7 % of population2024: 12.3 % of population

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

Analysis

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan recorded 12.3% for prevalence of undernourishment in 2024.

The figure is down 2.8% on the previous year and up 25.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 13.0% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 9.1%, in 2016.

That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 16th out of 47 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 2001 to 2024.
Year % of population Change
2001 12.9% —
2002 13.0% +0.9%
2003 12.6% -3.2%
2004 11.8% -6.2%
2005 11.1% -5.9%
2006 10.5% -5.6%
2007 10.1% -4.1%
2008 9.9% -1.6%
2009 9.9% -0.1%
2010 10.0% +1.3%
2011 10.1% +1.0%
2012 10.2% +0.2%
2013 10.0% -1.7%
2014 9.8% -1.7%
2015 9.6% -2.7%
2016 9.1% -4.3%
2017 9.4% +3.0%
2018 9.4% -0.5%
2019 10.4% +10.4%
2020 10.9% +5.6%
2021 12.4% +13.3%
2022 12.6% +2.0%
2023 12.7% +0.4%
2024 12.3% -2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11.3% 9.9% 13.0% 9
2010s 9.8% 9.1% 10.4% 10
2020s 12.2% 10.9% 12.7% 5

Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

  1. 13 Afghanistan 27.8% compare
  2. 14 Solomon Islands 27.0% compare
  3. 15 Sierra Leone 25.3% compare
  4. 16 Congo 25.0% compare
  5. 17 Malawi 24.5% compare
  6. 18 Gabon 23.3% compare
  7. 19 Sao Tome and Principe 23.0% compare

See the full ranking of 218 places →

More health data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of undernourishment in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
Prevalence of undernourishment in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 12.3% in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
The highest recorded value was 13.0% in 2002.
What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
The lowest recorded value was 9.1% in 2016.
How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 16th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 25.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 13 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-undernourishment-percent-of-population/middle-east-north-africa-afghanistan-and-pakistan/

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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
218 places, 5,187 data points, 2001–2024
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%.