Number of people who are undernourished in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Number of people who are undernourished was 3.20 million millions in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of people who are undernourished in Zimbabwe, 2001–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millions.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 3.20 million millions for number of people who are undernourished in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is down 5.9% on the previous year and down 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people who are undernourished in Zimbabwe peaked at 4.90 million millions in 2015 and was at its lowest, 3.20 million millions, in 2023.
That places Zimbabwe 36th out of 131 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Number of people who are undernourished in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3.90 million millions | — |
| 2002 | 3.90 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 3.80 million millions | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 3.80 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3.70 million millions | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 3.60 million millions | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 3.60 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3.50 million millions | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 3.70 million millions | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 3.90 million millions | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 4.10 million millions | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 4.10 million millions | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 4.40 million millions | +7.3% |
| 2014 | 4.70 million millions | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 4.90 million millions | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 4.80 million millions | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 4.60 million millions | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 4.70 million millions | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 4.60 million millions | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 4.40 million millions | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 3.90 million millions | -11.4% |
| 2022 | 3.40 million millions | -12.8% |
| 2023 | 3.20 million millions | -5.9% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 3.20 million millions is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.60 million millions, 2.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 3.20 million millions is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.10 million millions, 1.5× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.72 million millions | 3.50 million millions | 3.90 million millions | 9 |
| 2010s | 4.48 million millions | 3.90 million millions | 4.90 million millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.73 million millions | 3.20 million millions | 4.40 million millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 35 Thailand 3.30 million millions compare
- 37 Burkina Faso 3.00 million millions compare
- 37 Papua New Guinea 3.00 million millions compare
- 39 Mali 2.90 million millions compare
- 39 Myanmar 2.90 million millions compare
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2024)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 122.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 11,077 2010 = 100 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people who are undernourished in Zimbabwe?
- Number of people who are undernourished in Zimbabwe was 3.20 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 4.90 million millions in 2015.
- What is the lowest number of people who are undernourished recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.20 million millions in 2023.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for number of people who are undernourished?
- Zimbabwe ranks 36th out of 131 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people who are undernourished rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.