Number of undernourished people in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Number of undernourished people was 277.5 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Number of undernourished people in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of undernourished people in Sub-Saharan Africa is 277.5, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 62.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of undernourished people in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 277.5 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 156.3, in 2009.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 3rd out of 25 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Number of undernourished people in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 170.7 | — |
| 2001 | 170.1 | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 171.2 | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 172.8 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 172 | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 165 | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 161.7 | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 160.5 | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 158.8 | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 156.3 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 158.3 | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 160.8 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 164.7 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 169.8 | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 171.2 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 180.2 | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 195.7 | +8.6% |
| 2017 | 195.3 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 203.2 | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 218.9 | +7.7% |
| 2020 | 238.3 | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 247.9 | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 252.4 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 268.1 | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 277.5 | +3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 165.91 | 156.3 | 172.8 | 10 |
| 2010s | 181.81 | 158.3 | 218.9 | 10 |
| 2020s | 256.84 | 238.3 | 277.5 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More development goals data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Red List Index 0.8101 (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 616 (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 165.83 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 366 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 355 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 232 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 658 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 794 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 817 (2025)
- Infant deaths 1.89 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of undernourished people in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Number of undernourished people in Sub-Saharan Africa was 277.5 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest number of undernourished people recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 277.5 in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of undernourished people recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 156.3 in 2009.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for number of undernourished people?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd out of 25 groups with data for 2024.
- Is number of undernourished people rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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 — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).