Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) was 2.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of undernourishment in Saudi Arabia, 2001–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 2.5% for prevalence of undernourishment in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Saudi Arabia peaked at 4.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 2015.
Saudi Arabia ranks 108th of 171 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4.6% | — |
| 2002 | 4.8% | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 4.7% | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 3.9% | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | -7.7% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | -8.8% |
| 2010 | 3.2% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 3.1% | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | -12.5% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 2.5% | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.5% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | +0.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 2.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.5%, 1.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 2.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7.1%, 35% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.1% | 3.1% | 4.8% | 9 |
| 2010s | 2.8% | 2.5% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 105 Argentina 2.8% compare
- 105 Tunisia 2.8% compare
- 107 French Polynesia 2.6% compare
- 108 Algeria 2.5% compare
- 108 Armenia 2.5% compare
- 108 Australia 2.5% compare
- 108 Austria 2.5% compare
- 108 Azerbaijan 2.5% compare
- 108 Belarus 2.5% compare
- 108 Belgium 2.5% compare
- 108 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2.5% compare
- 108 Brazil 2.5% compare
- 108 Bulgaria 2.5% compare
- 108 Canada 2.5% compare
- 108 Chile 2.5% compare
- 108 China 2.5% compare
- 108 Costa Rica 2.5% compare
- 108 Croatia 2.5% compare
- 108 Cyprus 2.5% compare
- 108 Czechia 2.5% compare
- 108 Denmark 2.5% compare
- 108 Dominican Republic 2.5% compare
- 108 Estonia 2.5% compare
- 108 Finland 2.5% compare
- 108 France 2.5% compare
- 108 Georgia 2.5% compare
- 108 Germany 2.5% compare
- 108 Greece 2.5% compare
- 108 Guyana 2.5% compare
- 108 Hungary 2.5% compare
- 108 Iceland 2.5% compare
- 108 Ireland 2.5% compare
- 108 Israel 2.5% compare
- 108 Italy 2.5% compare
- 108 Kazakhstan 2.5% compare
- 108 South Korea 2.5% compare
- 108 Kuwait 2.5% compare
- 108 Latvia 2.5% compare
- 108 Lithuania 2.5% compare
- 108 Luxembourg 2.5% compare
- 108 Malaysia 2.5% compare
- 108 Malta 2.5% compare
- 108 Moldova 2.5% compare
- 108 Mongolia 2.5% compare
- 108 Montenegro 2.5% compare
- 108 Netherlands 2.5% compare
- 108 New Zealand 2.5% compare
- 108 North Macedonia 2.5% compare
- 108 Norway 2.5% compare
- 108 Poland 2.5% compare
- 108 Portugal 2.5% compare
- 108 Romania 2.5% compare
- 108 Russia 2.5% compare
- 108 Serbia 2.5% compare
- 108 Seychelles 2.5% compare
- 108 Slovenia 2.5% compare
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- 108 Sweden 2.5% compare
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- 108 Turkey 2.5% compare
- 108 United Arab Emirates 2.5% compare
- 108 United Kingdom 2.5% compare
- 108 United States 2.5% compare
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- 108 Uzbekistan 2.5% compare
- 108 Japan 2.5% compare
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 829 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 5.31 % 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 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 5.38 % 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 0.0401 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in Saudi Arabia?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in Saudi Arabia was 2.5% in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.8% in 2002.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 2015.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 108th out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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%.