Number of undernourished people (millions) in South America
South America: Number of undernourished people (millions) was 15.4 num m in 2025. ▼ Falling
Number of undernourished people in South America, 2000–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in num m.
Analysis
In 2025, number of undernourished people in South America stood at 15.4 num m.
That represents a change of down 4.9% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of undernourished people in South America peaked at 40 num m in 2002 and was at its lowest, 14 num m, in 2014.
That places South America 20th out of 28 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Number of undernourished people (millions) in South America, year by year
| Year | num m | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 37.2 num m | — |
| 2001 | 37.2 num m | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 40 num m | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 33.9 num m | -15.3% |
| 2004 | 32.2 num m | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 29.5 num m | -8.4% |
| 2006 | 27.2 num m | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 24.6 num m | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 21.6 num m | -12.2% |
| 2009 | 20.8 num m | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 19.4 num m | -6.7% |
| 2011 | 18.1 num m | -6.7% |
| 2012 | 17.1 num m | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 15.7 num m | -8.2% |
| 2014 | 14 num m | -10.8% |
| 2015 | 15.4 num m | +10.0% |
| 2016 | 21.2 num m | +37.7% |
| 2017 | 19.8 num m | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 20.6 num m | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 19.6 num m | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 23.5 num m | +19.9% |
| 2021 | 22.2 num m | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 19.8 num m | -10.8% |
| 2023 | 18.3 num m | -7.6% |
| 2024 | 16.2 num m | -11.5% |
| 2025 | 15.4 num m | -4.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of undernourished people (millions) in South America changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +37.7% | 15.4 num m | 21.2 num m |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.42 num m | 20.8 num m | 40 num m | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.09 num m | 14 num m | 21.2 num m | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.23 num m | 15.4 num m | 23.5 num m | 6 |
Countries ranked near South America
More development goals data for South America
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 1,476 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 817.14 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 290 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 283 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 138 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 224 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 329 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 338 (2025)
- Alcohol consumption per capita (aged 15 years and older) within a 7.73 ltpureal (2024)
- Children moderately or severely stunted 2,822 num th (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of undernourished people in South America?
- Number of undernourished people in South America was 15.4 num m in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest number of undernourished people recorded in South America?
- The highest recorded value was 40 num m in 2002.
- What is the lowest number of undernourished people recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 14 num m in 2014.
- How does South America rank for number of undernourished people?
- South America ranks 20th out of 28 groups with data for 2025.
- Is number of undernourished people rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South America 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).