Prevalence of undernourishment in South America
South America: Prevalence of undernourishment was 3.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of undernourishment in South America, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of undernourishment in South America stood at 3.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.5% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in South America peaked at 11.2% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 2014.
South America ranks 21st of 27 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment in South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10.7% | — |
| 2001 | 10.5% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 11.2% | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 9.4% | -16.1% |
| 2004 | 8.8% | -6.4% |
| 2005 | 8.0% | -9.1% |
| 2006 | 7.3% | -8.8% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | -11.0% |
| 2008 | 5.6% | -13.8% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 4.9% | -9.3% |
| 2011 | 4.6% | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 4.3% | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 3.9% | -9.3% |
| 2014 | 3.4% | -12.8% |
| 2015 | 3.8% | +11.8% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | +34.2% |
| 2017 | 4.7% | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 4.6% | -6.1% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | +19.6% |
| 2021 | 5.3% | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | -11.3% |
| 2023 | 4.2% | -10.6% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | -9.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.3% | 5.4% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 3.4% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 3.8% | 5.5% | 5 |
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 (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 817.14 (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 (2024)
- Children moderately or severely stunted 2,822 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in South America?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in South America was 3.8% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in South America?
- The highest recorded value was 11.2% in 2002.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 2014.
- How does South America rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- South America ranks 21st out of 27 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. 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 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).