Number of undernourished people in Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Democratic People's Republic of Korea: Number of undernourished people was 12.2 num m in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
12.2 num m
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
12th
of 118 countries
All-time high
12.3 num m
in 2017
All-time low
7.9 num m
in 2003
Years of data
18
2001–2018

Number of undernourished people in Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 2001–2018

02.557.51012.52001200920182001: 8.6 num m2002: 8.4 num m2003: 7.9 num m2004: 8 num m2005: 8.4 num m2006: 9.1 num m2007: 9.6 num m2008: 10 num m2009: 10.4 num m2010: 10.7 num m2011: 10.9 num m2012: 11 num m2013: 11.1 num m2014: 11.3 num m2015: 11.5 num m2016: 11.8 num m2017: 12.3 num m2018: 12.2 num m

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in num m.

Analysis

The most recent figure for number of undernourished people in Democratic People's Republic of Korea is 12.2 num m, measured in 2018.

That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and up 22.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of undernourished people in Democratic People's Republic of Korea peaked at 12.3 num m in 2017 and was at its lowest, 7.9 num m, in 2003.

That places Democratic People's Republic of Korea 12th out of 118 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.

Number of undernourished people in Democratic People's Republic of Korea, year by year

Annual values for Number of undernourished people (millions) in Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 2001 to 2018.
Year num m Change
2001 8.6 num m
2002 8.4 num m -2.3%
2003 7.9 num m -6.0%
2004 8 num m +1.3%
2005 8.4 num m +5.0%
2006 9.1 num m +8.3%
2007 9.6 num m +5.5%
2008 10 num m +4.2%
2009 10.4 num m +4.0%
2010 10.7 num m +2.9%
2011 10.9 num m +1.9%
2012 11 num m +0.9%
2013 11.1 num m +0.9%
2014 11.3 num m +1.8%
2015 11.5 num m +1.8%
2016 11.8 num m +2.6%
2017 12.3 num m +4.2%
2018 12.2 num m -0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 8.93 num m 7.9 num m 10.4 num m 9
2010s 11.42 num m 10.7 num m 12.3 num m 9

Countries ranked near Democratic People's Republic of Korea

  1. 9 Bangladesh 14.3 num m compare
  2. 10 Madagascar 13.3 num m compare
  3. 11 United Republic of Tanzania 13.1 num m compare
  4. 13 Afghanistan 11.9 num m compare
  5. 14 Somalia 10.7 num m compare
  6. 15 Uganda 10.4 num m compare

See the full ranking of 147 places →

More development goals data for Democratic People's Republic of Korea

All data for Democratic People's Republic of Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of undernourished people in Democratic People's Republic of Korea?
Number of undernourished people in Democratic People's Republic of Korea was 12.2 num m in 2018, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest number of undernourished people recorded in Democratic People's Republic of Korea?
The highest recorded value was 12.3 num m in 2017.
What is the lowest number of undernourished people recorded in Democratic People's Republic of Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 7.9 num m in 2003.
How does Democratic People's Republic of Korea rank for number of undernourished people?
Democratic People's Republic of Korea ranks 12th out of 118 countries with data for 2018.
Is number of undernourished people rising or falling in Democratic People's Republic of Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Democratic People's Republic of Korea 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 Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://development-goals.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-undernourished-people-millions/democratic-people-s-republic-of-korea/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of undernourished people (millions)
Unit
num m
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
147 places, 3,207 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed