Number of undernourished people in Africa

Africa: Number of undernourished people was 306.5 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
306.5
Change on year
up 3.5%
Rank
2nd
of 25 groups
All-time high
306.5
in 2024
All-time low
168.1
in 2009
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Number of undernourished people in Africa, 2000–2024

01002003002000201220242000: 183.82001: 182.42002: 183.22003: 185.22004: 185.32005: 1782006: 174.22007: 172.62008: 170.52009: 168.12010: 170.12011: 172.92012: 176.92013: 182.32014: 184.12015: 193.72016: 209.72017: 210.32018: 217.92019: 233.92020: 255.22021: 267.32022: 272.92023: 296.22024: 306.5

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

Africa recorded 306.5 for number of undernourished people in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 66.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of undernourished people in Africa peaked at 306.5 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 168.1, in 2009.

That places Africa 2nd out of 25 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Number of undernourished people in Africa, year by year

Annual values for Number of undernourished people (millions) in Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 183.8
2001 182.4 -0.8%
2002 183.2 +0.4%
2003 185.2 +1.1%
2004 185.3 +0.1%
2005 178 -3.9%
2006 174.2 -2.1%
2007 172.6 -0.9%
2008 170.5 -1.2%
2009 168.1 -1.4%
2010 170.1 +1.2%
2011 172.9 +1.6%
2012 176.9 +2.3%
2013 182.3 +3.1%
2014 184.1 +1.0%
2015 193.7 +5.2%
2016 209.7 +8.3%
2017 210.3 +0.3%
2018 217.9 +3.6%
2019 233.9 +7.3%
2020 255.2 +9.1%
2021 267.3 +4.7%
2022 272.9 +2.1%
2023 296.2 +8.5%
2024 306.5 +3.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 178.33 168.1 185.3 10
2010s 195.18 170.1 233.9 10
2020s 279.62 255.2 306.5 5

Countries ranked near Africa

  1. 1 India 172.1 compare
  2. 2 Nigeria 45.4 compare
  3. 3 Pakistan 40.9 compare
  4. 4 China 38.5 compare
  5. 5 Ethiopia 25.4 compare

See the full ranking of 139 places →

More development goals data for Africa

All data for Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of undernourished people in Africa?
Number of undernourished people in Africa was 306.5 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest number of undernourished people recorded in Africa?
The highest recorded value was 306.5 in 2024.
What is the lowest number of undernourished people recorded in Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 168.1 in 2009.
How does Africa rank for number of undernourished people?
Africa ranks 2nd out of 25 groups with data for 2024.
Is number of undernourished people rising or falling in Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 66.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Number of undernourished people (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of undernourished people in Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://development-goals.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-undernourished-people-millions/africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of undernourished people (millions)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
139 places, 2,956 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed