Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) was 22.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 2001–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) stood at 22.3%.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 25.3% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 17.8%, in 2013.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 5th out of 47 groups 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 25.3% | — |
| 2002 | 24.8% | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 24.2% | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 23.2% | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 22.1% | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 21.0% | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 20.2% | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 19.4% | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 18.8% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 18.5% | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 18.4% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 18.3% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 17.8% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 17.8% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 18.4% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 18.8% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 19.1% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 19.3% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 19.8% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 20.4% | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 20.9% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 21.7% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 22.1% | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 22.3% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22.1% | 18.8% | 25.3% | 9 |
| 2010s | 18.6% | 17.8% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.5% | 20.4% | 22.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- 2 Haiti 51.4% compare
- 3 North Korea 47.0% compare
- 4 Madagascar 41.8% compare
- 5 Zambia 41.0% compare
- 6 Syria 40.8% compare
- 7 Democratic Republic of Congo 39.5% compare
- 8 Liberia 37.3% compare
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0282 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 3.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.024 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0235 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 3.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 22.3% in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 25.3% in 2001.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.8% in 2013.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 5th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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%.