2.1.1 Number of undernourished people — Value in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: 2.1.1 Number of undernourished people — Value was 282.3 million No in 2025. ▲ Rising
2.1.1 Number of undernourished people — Value in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2025
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 Sub-Saharan Africa is 282.3 million No, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 54.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 282.3 million No in 2025 and was at its lowest, 155.4 million No, in 2009.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 3rd out of 24 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
2.1.1 Number of undernourished people — Value in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | million No | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 170.6 million No | — |
| 2001 | 170 million No | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 171.1 million No | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 172.7 million No | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 171.8 million No | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 164.7 million No | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 161.3 million No | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 159.9 million No | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 158.1 million No | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 155.4 million No | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 159 million No | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 162.1 million No | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 166.3 million No | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 170.4 million No | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 172 million No | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 182.3 million No | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 200.1 million No | +9.8% |
| 2017 | 199.2 million No | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 208.5 million No | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 221.1 million No | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 235.9 million No | +6.7% |
| 2021 | 246.3 million No | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 255.5 million No | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 269.4 million No | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 280.6 million No | +4.2% |
| 2025 | 282.3 million No | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 165.56 million No | 155.4 million No | 172.7 million No | 10 |
| 2010s | 184.1 million No | 159 million No | 221.1 million No | 10 |
| 2020s | 261.67 million No | 235.9 million No | 282.3 million No | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 India 142.5 million No compare
- 2 Nigeria 51.6 million No compare
- 3 Pakistan 40.4 million No compare
- 4 China, mainland 38.7 million No compare
- 4 Democratic Republic of the Congo 43.2 million No compare
- 5 Ethiopia 26.3 million No compare
- 5 United Republic of Tanzania 13.1 million No compare
- 6 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 12.2 million No compare
- 6 Kenya 19.7 million No compare
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.1718 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 4.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 420.94 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2516 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2788 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 407.9 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 287.43 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 466.42 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value in Sub-Saharan Africa was 282.3 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 282.3 million No in 2025.
- What is the lowest 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 155.4 million No in 2009.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd out of 24 groups with data for 2025.
- Is 2.1.1 number of undernourished people — value rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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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About this data
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.