2.1.1 Number of undernourished people — Value in South America

South America: 2.1.1 Number of undernourished people — Value was 15.4 million No in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
15.4 million No
Change on year
down 4.9%
Rank
17th
of 24 groups
All-time high
40 million No
in 2002
All-time low
14 million No
in 2014
Years of data
26
2000–2025

2.1.1 Number of undernourished people — Value in South America, 2000–2025

102030402000201220252000: 37.2 million No2001: 37.2 million No2002: 40 million No2003: 33.9 million No2004: 32.2 million No2005: 29.5 million No2006: 27.2 million No2007: 24.6 million No2008: 21.6 million No2009: 20.8 million No2010: 19.4 million No2011: 18.1 million No2012: 17.1 million No2013: 15.7 million No2014: 14 million No2015: 15.4 million No2016: 21.2 million No2017: 19.8 million No2018: 20.6 million No2019: 19.6 million No2020: 23.5 million No2021: 22.2 million No2022: 19.8 million No2023: 18.3 million No2024: 16.2 million No2025: 15.4 million No

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in million No.

Analysis

The most recent figure for 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value in South America is 15.4 million No, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.9% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value in South America peaked at 40 million No in 2002 and was at its lowest, 14 million No, in 2014.

South America ranks 17th of 24 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

2.1.1 Number of undernourished people — Value in South America, year by year

Annual values for 2.1.1 Number of undernourished people — Value in South America, 2000 to 2025.
Year million No Change
2000 37.2 million No
2001 37.2 million No +0.0%
2002 40 million No +7.5%
2003 33.9 million No -15.3%
2004 32.2 million No -5.0%
2005 29.5 million No -8.4%
2006 27.2 million No -7.8%
2007 24.6 million No -9.6%
2008 21.6 million No -12.2%
2009 20.8 million No -3.7%
2010 19.4 million No -6.7%
2011 18.1 million No -6.7%
2012 17.1 million No -5.5%
2013 15.7 million No -8.2%
2014 14 million No -10.8%
2015 15.4 million No +10.0%
2016 21.2 million No +37.7%
2017 19.8 million No -6.6%
2018 20.6 million No +4.0%
2019 19.6 million No -4.9%
2020 23.5 million No +19.9%
2021 22.2 million No -5.5%
2022 19.8 million No -10.8%
2023 18.3 million No -7.6%
2024 16.2 million No -11.5%
2025 15.4 million No -4.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 30.42 million No 20.8 million No 40 million No 10
2010s 18.09 million No 14 million No 21.2 million No 10
2020s 19.23 million No 15.4 million No 23.5 million No 6

Countries ranked near South America

  1. 14 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 1.5 million No compare
  2. 14 Zambia 8.7 million No compare
  3. 15 Lao People's Democratic Republic 0.8 million No compare
  4. 15 Mozambique 7.7 million No compare
  5. 16 South Africa 7.2 million No compare
  6. 16 Timor-Leste 0.2 million No compare
  7. 17 Chad 6.8 million No compare
  8. 17 Republic of Moldova 0.1 million No compare
  9. 18 Angola 6.6 million No compare
  10. 19 Iraq 6.2 million No compare
  11. 20 Haiti 6.1 million No compare

See the full ranking of 138 places →

More economy & growth data for South America

All data for South America →

Frequently asked questions

What is 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value in South America?
2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value in South America was 15.4 million No in 2025, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value recorded in South America?
The highest recorded value was 40 million No in 2002.
What is the lowest 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value recorded in South America?
The lowest recorded value was 14 million No in 2014.
How does South America rank for 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value?
South America ranks 17th out of 24 groups with data for 2025.
Is 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value rising or falling in South America?
Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South America data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of 2.1.1 Number of undernourished people — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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2.1.1 Number of undernourished people — Value in South America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/2-1-1-number-of-undernourished-people-value/south-america/

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About this data

Indicator
2.1.1 Number of undernourished people — Value
Unit
million No
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
138 places, 3,058 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

As the custodian agency of 22 SDG indicators, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is responsible for curating and refining the methodologies of these indicators, collecting data from national sources, ensuring their quality and compatibility with applicable standards and classifications, and disseminating data at global level. This FAOSTAT domain complements the global SDG database administered by the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), as well as FAO’s SDG indicators portal, by providing access to the available data for all SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship. While this metadata page provides summary information on all SDG indicators data disseminated through FAOSTAT, indicator-specific metadata can be accessed from the link on the right hand navigation column. This additional metadata file provides details on the methodology used to compile each indicators, their data sources and the contact information of the relevant FAO focal point. It includes the links to the official SDG Indicator metadata documents accessible from the UNSD global SDG database.SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship, consisting of 22 indicators and 66 series that fall under six goals: • Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.• Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.• Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production.• Goal 14: Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.• Goal 15: Life on land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.