South Africa vs South America: Number of undernourished people
South Africa
7.2 num m
in 2024
South America
15.4 num m
in 2025
South Africa rank
21st
South America rank
20th
Number of undernourished people over time
- South Africa
- South America
How they compare
South America currently reports 15.4 num m against 7.2 num m in South Africa, a difference of 8.2 num m.
That makes South America's figure about 2.1 times South Africa's.
Across all 24 years both countries report, South America has been ahead every year.
South Africa ranks 21st and South America ranks 20th of 118 countries.
South America has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | South America | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.7 num m | 29.67 num m | 27.97 num m | South America |
| 2010s | 3.09 num m | 18.09 num m | 15 num m | South America |
| 2020s | 6.26 num m | 20 num m | 13.74 num m | South America |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher number of undernourished people, South Africa or South America?
- South America, at 15.4 num m against 7.2 num m in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in number of undernourished people between South Africa and South America?
- 8.2 num m, with South America ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and South America?
- 24 years are reported by both, from 2001 to 2024.
- How do South Africa and South America rank globally for number of undernourished people?
- South Africa ranks 21st and South America ranks 20th of 118 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as Number of undernourished people (millions). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.