Number of people who are undernourished in Iran
Iran: Number of people who are undernourished was 6.20 million millions in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of people who are undernourished in Iran, 2001–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millions.
Analysis
Iran recorded 6.20 million millions for number of people who are undernourished in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in Iran peaked at 7.50 million millions in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3.30 million millions, in 2001.
That places Iran 25th out of 131 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Number of people who are undernourished in Iran, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3.30 million millions | — |
| 2002 | 3.60 million millions | +9.1% |
| 2003 | 3.80 million millions | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 4.10 million millions | +7.9% |
| 2005 | 4.60 million millions | +12.2% |
| 2006 | 5.10 million millions | +10.9% |
| 2007 | 5.50 million millions | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 5.90 million millions | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 6.40 million millions | +8.5% |
| 2010 | 7.30 million millions | +14.1% |
| 2011 | 7.50 million millions | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 7.30 million millions | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 6.40 million millions | -12.3% |
| 2014 | 6.20 million millions | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 6.10 million millions | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 6.40 million millions | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 6.80 million millions | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 6.90 million millions | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 6.70 million millions | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 6.10 million millions | -9.0% |
| 2021 | 6.00 million millions | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 6.00 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 6.20 million millions | +3.3% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 6.20 million millions is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 500,000 millions, 12.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Iran's 6.20 million millions is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.40 million millions, 4.4× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.70 million millions | 3.30 million millions | 6.40 million millions | 9 |
| 2010s | 6.76 million millions | 6.10 million millions | 7.50 million millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.08 million millions | 6.00 million millions | 6.20 million millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More reference data data for Iran
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Enteric Fermentation 35,629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Crop Residues 1,936 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 34.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Burning - Crop residues 281.19 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people who are undernourished in Iran?
- Number of people who are undernourished in Iran was 6.20 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 7.50 million millions in 2011.
- What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.30 million millions in 2001.
- How does Iran rank for number of people who are undernourished?
- Iran ranks 25th out of 131 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran 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.