Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Somalia
Somalia: Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) was 56.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of undernourishment in Somalia, 2001–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 56.5% for prevalence of undernourishment in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and down 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Somalia peaked at 72.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 52.0%, in 2021.
That places Somalia 1st out of 171 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Somalia, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 70.0% | — |
| 2002 | 69.9% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 69.8% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 69.7% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 69.7% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 69.7% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 69.7% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 69.8% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 71.8% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 72.5% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 71.5% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 67.4% | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 63.2% | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 61.4% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 60.7% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 60.1% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 58.9% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 56.1% | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 53.8% | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 52.1% | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 52.0% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 52.5% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 54.5% | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 56.5% | +3.7% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 56.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 23.6%, 2.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 56.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.8%, 3.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 70.0% | 69.7% | 71.8% | 9 |
| 2010s | 62.6% | 53.8% | 72.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.5% | 52.0% | 56.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 2 Haiti 51.4% compare
- 3 North Korea 47.0% compare
- 4 Madagascar 41.8% compare
More health data for Somalia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.41 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8681 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 32,421 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 182 (2013)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 2.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0897 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0926 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in Somalia?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in Somalia was 56.5% in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 72.5% in 2010.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.0% in 2021.
- How does Somalia rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- Somalia ranks 1st out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Somalia 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%.