Prevalence of undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Prevalence of undernourishment was 22.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 22.3%.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 25.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 26.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 17.8%, in 2014.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd of 27 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 26.1% | — |
| 2001 | 25.3% | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 24.8% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 24.3% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 23.6% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 22.0% | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 21.0% | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 20.2% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 19.5% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 18.7% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 18.4% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 18.2% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 18.1% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 18.1% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 17.8% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 18.2% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 19.3% | +6.0% |
| 2017 | 18.8% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 19.0% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 20.0% | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 21.2% | +6.0% |
| 2021 | 21.5% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 21.3% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 22.1% | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 22.3% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22.6% | 18.7% | 26.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.6% | 17.8% | 20.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.7% | 21.2% | 22.3% | 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 prevalence of undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa was 22.3% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.8% in 2014.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd out of 27 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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).