Number of people who are undernourished in Somalia
Somalia: Number of people who are undernourished was 9.80 million millions in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of people who are undernourished in Somalia, 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 Somalia stood at 9.80 million millions. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 19.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in Somalia peaked at 9.80 million millions in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.40 million millions, in 2001.
That places Somalia 16th 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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6.40 million millions | — |
| 2002 | 6.70 million millions | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 6.90 million millions | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 7.20 million millions | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 7.40 million millions | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 7.70 million millions | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 7.90 million millions | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 8.10 million millions | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 8.60 million millions | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 8.80 million millions | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 8.80 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 8.50 million millions | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 8.20 million millions | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 8.20 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 8.40 million millions | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 8.60 million millions | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 8.80 million millions | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 8.70 million millions | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 8.60 million millions | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 8.70 million millions | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 9.00 million millions | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 9.40 million millions | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 9.80 million millions | +4.3% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 9.80 million millions is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.30 million millions, 1.8× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 9.80 million millions is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.10 million millions, 4.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.43 million millions | 6.40 million millions | 8.60 million millions | 9 |
| 2010s | 8.56 million millions | 8.20 million millions | 8.80 million millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.22 million millions | 8.70 million millions | 9.80 million millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More reference data data for Somalia
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.4444 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3652 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 234.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 43.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure Management 96.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Enteric Fermentation 28,272 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Crop Residues 71.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Enteric Fermentation 1,010 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2685 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people who are undernourished in Somalia?
- Number of people who are undernourished in Somalia was 9.80 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.80 million millions in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.40 million millions in 2001.
- How does Somalia rank for number of people who are undernourished?
- Somalia ranks 16th out of 131 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Somalia 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.