Number of undernourished people (millions) in Africa
Africa: Number of undernourished people (millions) was 309.2 num m in 2025. ▲ Rising
Number of undernourished people in Africa, 2000–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in num m.
Analysis
Africa recorded 309.2 num m for number of undernourished people in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 57.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of undernourished people in Africa peaked at 309.2 num m in 2025 and was at its lowest, 167.3 num m, in 2009.
That places Africa 2nd out of 28 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Number of undernourished people (millions) in Africa, year by year
| Year | num m | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 183.7 num m | — |
| 2001 | 182.3 num m | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 183 num m | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 185.1 num m | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 185.2 num m | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 177.7 num m | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 173.8 num m | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 172 num m | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 169.7 num m | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 167.3 num m | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 170.8 num m | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 174.3 num m | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 178.6 num m | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 183 num m | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 185 num m | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 195.8 num m | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 214.1 num m | +9.3% |
| 2017 | 214.4 num m | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 223.3 num m | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 236.1 num m | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 252.7 num m | +7.0% |
| 2021 | 265.8 num m | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 276.1 num m | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 297.2 num m | +7.6% |
| 2024 | 307.3 num m | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 309.2 num m | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 177.98 num m | 167.3 num m | 185.2 num m | 10 |
| 2010s | 197.54 num m | 170.8 num m | 236.1 num m | 10 |
| 2020s | 284.72 num m | 252.7 num m | 309.2 num m | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa
More development goals data for Africa
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 679.3 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 212.63 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 386 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 374 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 237 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 779 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 979 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 1,004 (2025)
- Alcohol consumption per capita (aged 15 years and older) within a 2.44 ltpureal (2024)
- Children moderately or severely stunted 64,821 num th (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of undernourished people in Africa?
- Number of undernourished people in Africa was 309.2 num m in 2025, 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 309.2 num m in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of undernourished people recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 167.3 num m in 2009.
- How does Africa rank for number of undernourished people?
- Africa ranks 2nd out of 28 groups with data for 2025.
- Is number of undernourished people rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.9%. 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).