Prevalence of undernourishment in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of undernourishment was 10.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of undernourishment in South Africa, 2001–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of undernourishment in South Africa is 10.0%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is up 78.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in South Africa peaked at 10.0% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 2004.
South Africa ranks 57th of 168 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3.6% | — |
| 2002 | 3.5% | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 3.4% | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 3.3% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 3.3% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 3.4% | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 3.5% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 3.5% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 4.0% | +14.3% |
| 2010 | 4.5% | +12.5% |
| 2011 | 5.0% | +11.1% |
| 2012 | 5.2% | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 5.6% | +7.7% |
| 2014 | 6.4% | +14.3% |
| 2015 | 6.6% | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 6.4% | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 6.1% | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 7.2% | +12.5% |
| 2020 | 8.6% | +19.4% |
| 2021 | 9.4% | +9.3% |
| 2022 | 10.0% | +6.4% |
| 2023 | 10.0% | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 10.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.4%, 2.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 10.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.7%, 51% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.5% | 3.3% | 4.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.9% | 4.5% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.5% | 8.6% | 10.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % 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 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in South Africa?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in South Africa was 10.0% in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.0% in 2022.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 2004.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- South Africa ranks 57th out of 168 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 78.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 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%.