Number of undernourished people in India

India: Number of undernourished people was 172.1 in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
172.1
Change on year
down 10.4%
World rank
1st
of 97 countries
All-time high
247
in 2004
All-time low
143.9
in 2017
Years of data
23
2001–2023

Number of undernourished people in India, 2001–2023

0501001502002502001201220232001: 194.92002: 216.32003: 236.82004: 2472005: 243.92006: 222.22007: 197.22008: 185.12009: 184.32010: 181.22011: 178.52012: 1712013: 166.42014: 1652015: 161.22016: 155.72017: 143.92018: 144.72019: 164.52020: 188.42021: 201.92022: 1922023: 172.1

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

India recorded 172.1 for number of undernourished people in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.4% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of undernourished people in India peaked at 247 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 143.9, in 2017.

India ranks 1st of 97 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 214.19 184.3 247 9
2010s 163.21 143.9 181.2 10
2020s 188.6 172.1 201.9 4

Countries ranked near India

  1. 2 Nigeria 45.4 compare
  2. 3 Pakistan 40.9 compare
  3. 4 China (People’s Republic of) 38.5 compare

See the full ranking of 139 places →

More development goals data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of undernourished people in India?
Number of undernourished people in India was 172.1 in 2023, 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 in 2004.
What is the lowest number of undernourished people recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 143.9 in 2017.
How does India rank for number of undernourished people?
India ranks 1st out of 97 countries with data for 2023.
Is number of undernourished people rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. 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.

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Number of undernourished people in India. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://development-goals.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-undernourished-people-millions/india/

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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