Prevalence of undernourishment in Africa
Africa: Prevalence of undernourishment was 237 population in 2011. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of undernourishment in Africa, 1991–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/foodsecurity/index_en.htm). Measured in population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of undernourishment in Africa is 237 population, measured in 2011. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Africa peaked at 237 population in 2011 and was at its lowest, 173 population, in 1991.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment in Africa, year by year
| Year | population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 173 population | — |
| 1992 | 174 population | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 180 population | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 182 population | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 186 population | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 189 population | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 192 population | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 198 population | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 201 population | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 202 population | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 206 population | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 209 population | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 208 population | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 210 population | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 212 population | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 211 population | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 214 population | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 217 population | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 220 population | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 228 population | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 237 population | +3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 186.11 population | 173 population | 201 population | 9 |
| 2000s | 210.9 population | 202 population | 220 population | 10 |
| 2010s | 232.5 population | 228 population | 237 population | 2 |
Countries ranked near Africa
- 1 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 34 population compare
- 1 Ethiopia 34 population compare
- 3 Sudan 18 population compare
- 3 Tanzania, United Republic of 18 population compare
More health data for Africa
- Deaths 10,119 (2024)
- Fraction 0.0479 (2024)
- Tuberculosis incidence 181 (2024)
- Total official development assistance to medical research and basic 5,948 (2024)
- Maternal mortality ratio 409.79 (2023)
- Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel 75.8% (2025)
- Malaria incidence per 1,000 population at risk 202.19 (2024)
- Total official development assistance to medical research and basic 5,713 (2024)
- Population 0-24 60.8% (2011)
- Tuberculosis prevalence rate 262.01 per 1000,000 population, WHO (2011)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in Africa?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in Africa was 237 population in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/foodsecurity/index_en.htm).
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 237 population in 2011.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 173 population in 1991.
- How does Africa rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- Africa ranks 1st out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/faostat/foodsecurity/index_en.htm), published as part of Prevalence of undernourishment (population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population below minimum dietary energy consumption is the population whose food intake is insufficient to meet dietary energy requirements continuously.