Number of undernourished people (millions) in India
India: Number of undernourished people (millions) was 142.5 num m in 2024. ▼ Falling
Number of undernourished people in India, 2001–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in num m.
Analysis
India recorded 142.5 num m for number of undernourished people in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.7% on the previous year and down 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of undernourished people in India peaked at 247 num m in 2004 and was at its lowest, 142.5 num m, in 2024.
India ranks 1st of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Number of undernourished people (millions) in India, year by year
| Year | num m | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 194.9 num m | — |
| 2002 | 216.3 num m | +11.0% |
| 2003 | 236.8 num m | +9.5% |
| 2004 | 247 num m | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 243.9 num m | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 222.2 num m | -8.9% |
| 2007 | 197.2 num m | -11.3% |
| 2008 | 185.1 num m | -6.1% |
| 2009 | 184.3 num m | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 181.6 num m | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 181 num m | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 168.4 num m | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 161.6 num m | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 164 num m | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 165.1 num m | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 161.2 num m | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 144.3 num m | -10.5% |
| 2018 | 144.9 num m | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 163.9 num m | +13.1% |
| 2020 | 185.1 num m | +12.9% |
| 2021 | 196.7 num m | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 188.4 num m | -4.2% |
| 2023 | 165.1 num m | -12.4% |
| 2024 | 142.5 num m | -13.7% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 142.5 num m is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.45 num m, 98.3× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 214.19 num m | 184.3 num m | 247 num m | 9 |
| 2010s | 163.6 num m | 144.3 num m | 181.6 num m | 10 |
| 2020s | 175.56 num m | 142.5 num m | 196.7 num m | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More development goals data for India
- Red List Index 0.7875 index (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 1.97 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 350.51 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 72 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 72 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 49 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 141 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 297 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 297 (2025)
- Infant deaths 539,573 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of undernourished people in India?
- Number of undernourished people in India was 142.5 num m in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest number of undernourished people recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 247 num m in 2004.
- What is the lowest number of undernourished people recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 142.5 num m in 2024.
- How does India rank for number of undernourished people?
- India ranks 1st out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of undernourished people rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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 — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).