Prevalence of undernourishment in Africa
Africa: Prevalence of undernourishment was 20.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of undernourishment in Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Africa recorded 20.2% for prevalence of undernourishment in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Africa peaked at 22.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 15.5%, in 2014.
That places Africa 4th out of 27 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment in Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.1% | — |
| 2001 | 21.4% | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 21.0% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 20.7% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 20.2% | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 18.9% | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 18.0% | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 17.4% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 16.7% | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 16.1% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 15.9% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 15.7% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 15.7% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 15.7% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 15.5% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 15.9% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 16.8% | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 16.4% | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 16.6% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 17.4% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 18.5% | +6.3% |
| 2021 | 18.9% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 18.9% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 20.0% | +5.8% |
| 2024 | 20.2% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.2% | 16.1% | 22.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.2% | 15.5% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.3% | 18.5% | 20.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa
More development goals data for Africa
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 679.3 (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 212.63 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 386 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 374 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 237 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 779 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 979 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 1,004 (2025)
- Alcohol consumption per capita (aged 15 years and older) within a 2.44 (2024)
- Children moderately or severely stunted 64,821 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in Africa?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in Africa was 20.2% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 22.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.5% in 2014.
- How does Africa rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- Africa ranks 4th out of 27 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Prevalence of undernourishment (%). 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).