Number of people unable: Value July 2026 (SOFI report) in South Africa
South Africa: Number of people unable: Value July 2026 (SOFI report) was 37.5 million No in 2025. ▲ Rising
Number of people unable to afford a healthy diet (NUA) — Value — July in South Africa, 2017–2025
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in million No.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people unable to afford a healthy diet (nua) — value — july in South Africa stood at 37.5 million No. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people unable to afford a healthy diet (nua) — value — july in South Africa peaked at 37.5 million No in 2025 and was at its lowest, 34.9 million No, in 2018.
That places South Africa 16th out of 159 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Number of people unable: Value July 2026 (SOFI report) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | million No | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 35.1 million No | — |
| 2018 | 34.9 million No | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 34.9 million No | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 36.2 million No | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 35.8 million No | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 35.7 million No | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 36.3 million No | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 36.9 million No | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 37.5 million No | +1.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 37.5 million No is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1 million No, 37.5× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 37.5 million No is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.6 million No, 4.4× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 34.97 million No | 34.9 million No | 35.1 million No | 3 |
| 2020s | 36.4 million No | 35.7 million No | 37.5 million No | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 108.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people unable to afford a healthy diet (nua) — value — july in South Africa?
- Number of people unable to afford a healthy diet (nua) — value — july in South Africa was 37.5 million No in 2025, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest number of people unable to afford a healthy diet (nua) — value — july recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 37.5 million No in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people unable to afford a healthy diet (nua) — value — july recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.9 million No in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for number of people unable to afford a healthy diet (nua) — value — july?
- South Africa ranks 16th out of 159 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people unable to afford a healthy diet (nua) — value — july rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Number of people unable to afford a healthy diet (NUA) — Value — July 2026 (SOFI report). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Indicators on the cost and affordability of a healthy diet (CoAHD) are estimated in each country and show the population’s physical and economic access to least expensive locally available foods to meet requirements for a healthy diet, as defined in food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs). The indicators use observed retail food consumer prices and income distributions to provide an operational measure of people’s access to locally available foods in the proportions needed for health. These indicators support efforts within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030 (SDG 2). They also support the monitoring of progress towards the objective of transforming agrifood systems by promoting “nutrition-sensitive agriculture”. FAO, in partnership with the Food Price for Nutrition of the World Bank, produces and reports the CoAHD indicators.