Number of people who are undernourished in China
China: Number of people who are undernourished was 38.50 million millions in 2009. ▼ Falling
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%.
Number of people who are undernourished in China, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 127.30 million millions | — |
| 2002 | 120.20 million millions | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 111.30 million millions | -7.4% |
| 2004 | 101.50 million millions | -8.8% |
| 2005 | 90.60 million millions | -10.7% |
| 2006 | 78.80 million millions | -13.0% |
| 2007 | 65.30 million millions | -17.1% |
| 2008 | 51.70 million millions | -20.8% |
| 2009 | 38.50 million millions | -25.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 38.50 million millions is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 500,000 millions, 77.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- China's 38.50 million millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 300,000 millions, 128.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
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
Undernourishment is measured as having a caloric intake that is insufficient to meet the minimum energy requirements necessary for a given individual.