Number of people who are undernourished in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Number of people who are undernourished was 2.00 million millions in 2023. ▼ Falling
Number of people who are undernourished in Sierra Leone, 2001–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people who are undernourished in Sierra Leone is 2.00 million millions, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 4.8% on the previous year and up 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in Sierra Leone peaked at 2.40 million millions in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1.40 million millions, in 2010.
Sierra Leone ranks 49th of 131 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Number of people who are undernourished in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2.30 million millions | — |
| 2002 | 2.40 million millions | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 2.40 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2.40 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 2.20 million millions | -8.3% |
| 2006 | 2.00 million millions | -9.1% |
| 2007 | 1.80 million millions | -10.0% |
| 2008 | 1.70 million millions | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 1.50 million millions | -11.8% |
| 2010 | 1.40 million millions | -6.7% |
| 2011 | 1.40 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.40 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.60 million millions | +14.3% |
| 2014 | 1.60 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.70 million millions | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 1.80 million millions | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 1.90 million millions | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 2.00 million millions | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 2.10 million millions | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 2.20 million millions | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 2.10 million millions | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 2.10 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2.00 million millions | -4.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 2.00 million millions is below the median for low income countries, which is 5.30 million millions, 38% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 2.00 million millions is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.10 million millions, 95% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.08 million millions | 1.50 million millions | 2.40 million millions | 9 |
| 2010s | 1.69 million millions | 1.40 million millions | 2.10 million millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.10 million millions | 2.00 million millions | 2.20 million millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More reference data data for Sierra Leone
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0238 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4498 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0797 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.044 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.6534 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people who are undernourished in Sierra Leone?
- Number of people who are undernourished in Sierra Leone was 2.00 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 2.40 million millions in 2002.
- What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.40 million millions in 2010.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for number of people who are undernourished?
- Sierra Leone ranks 49th out of 131 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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
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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.