What is number of people who are undernourished in China?

Number of people who are undernourished in China was 38.50 million millions in 2009, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

What is the highest number of people who are undernourished recorded in China?

The highest recorded value was 127.30 million millions in 2001.

What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in China?

The lowest recorded value was 38.50 million millions in 2009.

How does China rank for number of people who are undernourished?

China ranks 5th out of 131 countries with data for 2009.

Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in China?

Over the last ten years it is down 69.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

Where does this China data come from?

The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people who are undernourished. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Number of people who are undernourished in China

Name: Number of people who are undernourished in China
Creator: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

China: Number of people who are undernourished was 38.50 million millions in 2009. ▼ Falling

Latest (2009)

38.50 million millions

Change on year

down 25.5%

World rank

5th

of 131 countries

All-time high

127.30 million millions

in 2001

All-time low

38.50 million millions

in 2009

Years of data

2001–2009

Number of people who are undernourished in China, 2001–2009

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millions.

Analysis

In 2009, number of people who are undernourished in China stood at 38.50 million millions. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 25.5% on the previous year and down 69.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in China peaked at 127.30 million millions in 2001 and was at its lowest, 38.50 million millions, in 2009.

China ranks 5th of 131 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Countries ranked near China

2 Nigeria 45.40 million millions compare
3 Pakistan 40.90 million millions compare
4 Democratic Republic of Congo 40.70 million millions compare
6 Ethiopia 25.40 million millions compare
7 Kenya 20.40 million millions compare
8 Bangladesh 17.90 million millions compare

See the full ranking of 131 places →

More reference data data for China

Spring temperature anomalies 1.66 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 0.0991 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 1.15 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 1.34 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 2.06 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 132.6 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 0 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of people who are undernourished in China?: Number of people who are undernourished in China was 38.50 million millions in 2009, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest number of people who are undernourished recorded in China?: The highest recorded value was 127.30 million millions in 2001.
What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in China?: The lowest recorded value was 38.50 million millions in 2009.
How does China rank for number of people who are undernourished?: China ranks 5th out of 131 countries with data for 2009.
Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in China?: Over the last ten years it is down 69.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this China data come from?: The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people who are undernourished. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Number of people who are undernourished
Unit: millions
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 131 places, 2,706 data points, 2001–2023
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Undernourishment is measured as having a caloric intake that is insufficient to meet the minimum energy requirements necessary for a given individual.