Number of people who are undernourished in South Africa
South Africa: Number of people who are undernourished was 6.30 million millions in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of people who are undernourished in South Africa, 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 South Africa is 6.30 million millions, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 103.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in South Africa peaked at 6.30 million millions in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.60 million millions, in 2004.
South Africa ranks 23rd of 131 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.74 million millions | 1.60 million millions | 2.10 million millions | 9 |
| 2010s | 3.34 million millions | 2.40 million millions | 4.30 million millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.88 million millions | 5.20 million millions | 6.30 million millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.191 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.36 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.6318 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.18 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.2153 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 209.92 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people who are undernourished in South Africa?
- Number of people who are undernourished in South Africa was 6.30 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.30 million millions in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.60 million millions in 2004.
- How does South Africa rank for number of people who are undernourished?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 131 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 103.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.