Countries With the Highest Undernourishment
Every country with a figure for undernourishment, ranked from highest to lowest. The top three are Haiti (54.2%), Somalia, Fed. Rep. (53.2%) and Korea, Dem. People's Rep. (47%). The middle country of the 168 has 5.3%.
What this measures
Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population). Source: Food and Agriculture Organization. For this measure, higher is worse.
Estimated from the food supply and how it is shared out, not by asking anyone. It is the FAO's model of how many people get less food energy than they need. The survey-based food insecurity measure below is treated as measuring the same thing. So their pair reads as two tools agreeing, not as a finding.
This measure mostly follows how rich a country is, so this ranking is close to a ranking by national income. Each country’s page also ranks it against countries with similar incomes, which is often the fairer comparison.
The full ranking
Each country’s latest figure, from 2018–2023. The year beside each value says when it was measured.
| Rank | Country | Undernourishment | Year | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haiti | 54.2% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 2 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 53.2% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 3 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 47% | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 4 | Madagascar | 39.5% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 5 | Syrian Arab Republic | 39% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 6 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 38.5% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 7 | Zambia | 37.2% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 8 | Kenya | 36.8% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 9 | Liberia | 35.5% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 10 | Chad | 32% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 11 | Central African Republic | 29.8% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 12 | Papua New Guinea | 28.7% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 13 | Afghanistan | 28.1% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 14 | Congo, Rep. | 26.4% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 15 | Gabon | 25.3% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 16 | Rwanda | 24.4% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 17 | Sierra Leone | 24.1% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 18 | Botswana | 24% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 19 | Angola | 22.5% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 20 | South Sudan | 22.3% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 21 | Guinea-Bissau | 22.1% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 22 | Uganda | 22% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 23 | Bolivia | 21.8% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 24 | Mozambique | 21.8% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 25 | Malawi | 21.4% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 26 | Tanzania | 20.2% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 27 | Solomon Islands | 20% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 28 | Nigeria | 19.9% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 29 | Ethiopia | 19.7% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 30 | Zimbabwe | 19.7% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 31 | Timor-Leste | 18.7% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 32 | Namibia | 18.1% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 33 | Sao Tome and Principe | 17.4% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 34 | Nicaragua | 17.3% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 35 | Gambia, The | 16.8% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 36 | Libya | 16.5% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 37 | Pakistan | 16.5% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 38 | Comoros | 15.4% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 39 | Iraq | 14.9% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 40 | Honduras | 14.8% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 41 | Eswatini | 14.7% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 42 | Benin | 14.3% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 43 | Jordan | 14.3% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 44 | Cabo Verde | 13.5% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 45 | Burkina Faso | 13.1% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 46 | Djibouti | 12.9% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 47 | Niger | 12.9% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 48 | Mali | 12.3% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 49 | Ecuador | 12.1% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 50 | India | 12% | 2023 | South Asia |
| 51 | Guatemala | 11.8% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 52 | Guinea | 11.4% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 53 | Macao SAR, China | 11.2% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 54 | Trinidad and Tobago | 11.2% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 55 | Cote d'Ivoire | 11.1% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 56 | Sudan | 11% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 57 | Bangladesh | 10.4% | 2023 | South Asia |
| 58 | South Africa | 10% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 59 | Suriname | 9.7% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 60 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 9.4% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 61 | Togo | 9.1% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 62 | Lebanon | 8.7% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 63 | Mauritania | 8.7% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 64 | Mauritius | 8.7% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 65 | Tajikistan | 8.4% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 66 | Jamaica | 7.7% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 67 | Sri Lanka | 7.4% | 2023 | South Asia |
| 68 | Vanuatu | 7.2% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 69 | Belize | 7% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 70 | Morocco | 7% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 71 | Peru | 6.9% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 72 | Ukraine | 6.9% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 73 | Fiji | 6.8% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 74 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 6.8% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 75 | El Salvador | 6.7% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 76 | Ghana | 6.3% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 77 | Indonesia | 6.3% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 78 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 6.1% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 79 | Oman | 5.9% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 80 | Venezuela, RB | 5.9% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 81 | Panama | 5.7% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 82 | Albania | 5.4% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 83 | Myanmar | 5.4% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 84 | Nepal | 5.3% | 2023 | South Asia |
| 85 | Viet Nam | 5.3% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 86 | Cambodia | 5.2% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 87 | Paraguay | 5.2% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 88 | Kyrgyz Republic | 5.1% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 89 | Senegal | 5.1% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 90 | New Caledonia | 4.9% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 91 | Cameroon | 4.8% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 92 | Thailand | 4.6% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 93 | Barbados | 4.4% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 94 | Turkmenistan | 4.3% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 95 | Kiribati | 4.1% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 96 | Colombia | 3.9% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 97 | French Polynesia | 3.8% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 98 | Dominica | 3.6% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 99 | Dominican Republic | 3.6% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 100 | Samoa | 3.6% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 101 | Argentina | 3.4% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 102 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 3.1% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 103 | Slovak Republic | 3.1% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 104 | Philippines | 3% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 105 | Tunisia | 3% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 106 | Mexico | 2.7% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 107 | United Arab Emirates | 2.5% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 108 | Armenia | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 109 | Australia | 2.5% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 110 | Austria | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 111 | Azerbaijan | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 112 | Belgium | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 113 | Bulgaria | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 114 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 115 | Belarus | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 116 | Brazil | 2.5% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 117 | Canada | 2.5% | 2023 | North America |
| 118 | Switzerland | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 119 | Chile | 2.5% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 120 | China | 2.5% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 121 | Costa Rica | 2.5% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 122 | Cyprus | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 123 | Czechia | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 124 | Germany | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 125 | Denmark | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 126 | Algeria | 2.5% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 127 | Spain | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 128 | Estonia | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 129 | Finland | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 130 | France | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 131 | United Kingdom | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 132 | Georgia | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 133 | Greece | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 134 | Guyana | 2.5% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 135 | Croatia | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 136 | Hungary | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 137 | Ireland | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 138 | Iceland | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 139 | Israel | 2.5% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 140 | Italy | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 141 | Kazakhstan | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 142 | Korea, Rep. | 2.5% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 143 | Kuwait | 2.5% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 144 | Lithuania | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 145 | Luxembourg | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 146 | Latvia | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 147 | Moldova | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 148 | North Macedonia | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 149 | Malta | 2.5% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 150 | Montenegro | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 151 | Mongolia | 2.5% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 152 | Malaysia | 2.5% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 153 | Netherlands | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 154 | Norway | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 155 | New Zealand | 2.5% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 156 | Poland | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 157 | Portugal | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 158 | Romania | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 159 | Russian Federation | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 160 | Saudi Arabia | 2.5% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 161 | Serbia | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 162 | Slovenia | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 163 | Sweden | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 164 | Seychelles | 2.5% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 165 | Turkiye | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 166 | Uruguay | 2.5% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 167 | United States | 2.5% | 2023 | North America |
| 168 | Uzbekistan | 2.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
More on undernourishment
- Countries With the Lowest Undernourishment
- Undernourishment by country: trend over time and what it goes with
Related rankings
- Countries With the Highest Life Expectancy
- Countries With the Highest Infant Mortality
- Countries With the Highest Under-5 Mortality
- Countries With the Highest Health Spending
- Countries With the Highest Suicide Rates
- Countries With the Highest Hospital Beds
- Countries With the Highest Basic Water Access
- Countries With the Highest Basic Sanitation
A ranking describes countries, not the people in them, and a high or low place does not by itself say why. All country rankings.