Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) was 11.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of undernourishment in South Africa, 2001–2024
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 11.2%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 6.7% on the previous year and up 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in South Africa peaked at 11.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 2004.
South Africa ranks 50th of 171 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) 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 | 3.3% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | +11.8% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 4.5% | +9.8% |
| 2012 | 4.6% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 5.6% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | 6.0% | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 6.0% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 6.1% | +5.2% |
| 2019 | 7.1% | +16.4% |
| 2020 | 8.6% | +21.1% |
| 2021 | 9.6% | +11.6% |
| 2022 | 10.2% | +6.2% |
| 2023 | 10.5% | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 11.2% | +6.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 11.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.1%, 2.7× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 11.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.8%, 60% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.8% | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 4.1% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.0% | 8.6% | 11.2% | 5 |
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in South Africa?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in South Africa was 11.2% in 2024, 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 11.2% in 2024.
- 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 50th out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 100.0%. 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.
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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%.