Prevalence of undernourishment (%) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Prevalence of undernourishment (%) was 4.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of undernourishment in Sri Lanka, 2001–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of undernourishment in Sri Lanka is 4.9%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 25.8% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Sri Lanka peaked at 16.8% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 2020.
That places Sri Lanka 90th out of 140 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment (%) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 16.8% | — |
| 2002 | 16.1% | -4.2% |
| 2003 | 15.9% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 15.2% | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 14.2% | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 13.5% | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 12.1% | -10.4% |
| 2008 | 11.1% | -8.3% |
| 2009 | 10.6% | -4.5% |
| 2010 | 11.0% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 10.8% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 10.0% | -7.4% |
| 2013 | 8.8% | -12.0% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | -30.7% |
| 2015 | 4.5% | -26.2% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | -8.9% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | +22.0% |
| 2018 | 5.4% | +8.0% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -29.6% |
| 2020 | 3.3% | -13.2% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | +39.4% |
| 2022 | 5.8% | +26.1% |
| 2023 | 6.6% | +13.8% |
| 2024 | 4.9% | -25.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 4.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.1%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.9% | 10.6% | 16.8% | 9 |
| 2010s | 7.0% | 3.8% | 11.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 3.3% | 6.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More development goals data for Sri Lanka
- Red List Index 0.6659 (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 628.59 (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 605.53 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 26 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 25 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 17 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 11 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 20 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 20 (2025)
- Infant deaths 1,663 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in Sri Lanka?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in Sri Lanka was 4.9% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 16.8% in 2001.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 2020.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- Sri Lanka ranks 90th out of 140 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).