Number of people who are undernourished in Pakistan
Pakistan: Number of people who are undernourished was 40.90 million millions in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of people who are undernourished in Pakistan, 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 Pakistan stood at 40.90 million millions. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 31.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in Pakistan peaked at 40.90 million millions in 2023 and was at its lowest, 24.80 million millions, in 2018.
Pakistan ranks 3rd of 131 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Number of people who are undernourished in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 32.50 million millions | — |
| 2002 | 34.30 million millions | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 33.80 million millions | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 31.30 million millions | -7.4% |
| 2005 | 29.60 million millions | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 28.20 million millions | -4.7% |
| 2007 | 27.90 million millions | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 28.60 million millions | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 29.90 million millions | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 30.80 million millions | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 31.30 million millions | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 31.10 million millions | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 31.10 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 30.50 million millions | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 28.90 million millions | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 25.30 million millions | -12.5% |
| 2017 | 26.10 million millions | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 24.80 million millions | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 29.70 million millions | +19.8% |
| 2020 | 31.40 million millions | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 39.20 million millions | +24.8% |
| 2022 | 40.70 million millions | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 40.90 million millions | +0.5% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 40.90 million millions is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.60 million millions, 25.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 40.90 million millions is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.40 million millions, 29.2× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.68 million millions | 27.90 million millions | 34.30 million millions | 9 |
| 2010s | 28.96 million millions | 24.80 million millions | 31.30 million millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.05 million millions | 31.40 million millions | 40.90 million millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More reference data data for Pakistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 91.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 260 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.79 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people who are undernourished in Pakistan?
- Number of people who are undernourished in Pakistan was 40.90 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 40.90 million millions in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.80 million millions in 2018.
- How does Pakistan rank for number of people who are undernourished?
- Pakistan ranks 3rd out of 131 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.