Number of people who are undernourished in India
India: Number of people who are undernourished was 172.10 million millions in 2023. ▼ Falling
Number of people who are undernourished in India, 2001–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2023, number of people who are undernourished in India stood at 172.10 million millions.
The figure is down 10.4% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in India peaked at 247.00 million millions in 2004 and was at its lowest, 143.90 million millions, in 2017.
India ranks 1st of 131 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Number of people who are undernourished in India, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 194.90 million millions | — |
| 2002 | 216.30 million millions | +11.0% |
| 2003 | 236.80 million millions | +9.5% |
| 2004 | 247.00 million millions | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 243.90 million millions | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 222.20 million millions | -8.9% |
| 2007 | 197.20 million millions | -11.3% |
| 2008 | 185.10 million millions | -6.1% |
| 2009 | 184.30 million millions | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 181.20 million millions | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 178.50 million millions | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 171.00 million millions | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 166.40 million millions | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 165.00 million millions | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 161.20 million millions | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 155.70 million millions | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 143.90 million millions | -7.6% |
| 2018 | 144.70 million millions | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 164.50 million millions | +13.7% |
| 2020 | 188.40 million millions | +14.5% |
| 2021 | 201.90 million millions | +7.2% |
| 2022 | 192.00 million millions | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 172.10 million millions | -10.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 172.10 million millions is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.60 million millions, 107.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 214.19 million millions | 184.30 million millions | 247.00 million millions | 9 |
| 2010s | 163.21 million millions | 143.90 million millions | 181.20 million millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 188.60 million millions | 172.10 million millions | 201.90 million millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people who are undernourished in India?
- Number of people who are undernourished in India was 172.10 million millions in 2023, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 247.00 million millions in 2004.
- What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 143.90 million millions in 2017.
- How does India rank for number of people who are undernourished?
- India ranks 1st out of 131 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.
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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.