Number of undernourished people (millions) in Zambia
Zambia: Number of undernourished people (millions) was 8.7 num m in 2024. ▲ Rising
Number of undernourished people in Zambia, 2001–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in num m.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of undernourished people in Zambia is 8.7 num m, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.8% on the previous year and up 47.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of undernourished people in Zambia peaked at 8.7 num m in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.2 num m, in 2001.
Zambia ranks 19th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Number of undernourished people (millions) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | num m | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5.2 num m | — |
| 2002 | 5.3 num m | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 5.5 num m | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 5.6 num m | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 5.8 num m | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 5.8 num m | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 5.9 num m | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 5.9 num m | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 6.1 num m | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 6.1 num m | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 6.2 num m | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 6.1 num m | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 6 num m | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 5.9 num m | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 5.8 num m | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 5.7 num m | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 5.5 num m | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 5.7 num m | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 5.9 num m | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 6.5 num m | +10.2% |
| 2021 | 7 num m | +7.7% |
| 2022 | 7.1 num m | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 8 num m | +12.7% |
| 2024 | 8.7 num m | +8.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 8.7 num m is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.45 num m, 6.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 8.7 num m is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.55 num m, 3.4× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.68 num m | 5.2 num m | 6.1 num m | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.89 num m | 5.5 num m | 6.2 num m | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.46 num m | 6.5 num m | 8.7 num m | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 16 Syrian Arab Republic 10.1 num m compare
- 16 Syria 10.1 num m compare
- 18 Egypt 9.8 num m compare
- 20 Mozambique 7.7 num m compare
- 21 Caribbean 7.4 num m compare
- 22 South Africa 7.2 num m compare
More development goals data for Zambia
- Red List Index 0.9703 index (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 1.38 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 84.52 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 33 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 32 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 32 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 15 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 15 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 15 (2025)
- Infant deaths 23,802 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of undernourished people in Zambia?
- Number of undernourished people in Zambia was 8.7 num m in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest number of undernourished people recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.7 num m in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of undernourished people recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2 num m in 2001.
- How does Zambia rank for number of undernourished people?
- Zambia ranks 19th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of undernourished people rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia 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).