Share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories in Zambia
Zambia: Share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories was 37.2 percent in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories in Zambia, 2001–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in percent.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 37.2 percent for share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories in 2023.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories in Zambia peaked at 50.3 percent in 2001 and was at its lowest, 31.5 percent, in 2018.
Zambia ranks 7th of 169 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories in Zambia, year by year
| Year | percent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 50.3 percent | — |
| 2002 | 50.1 percent | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 50.1 percent | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 49.5 percent | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 49.4 percent | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 48.1 percent | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 46.8 percent | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 45.6 percent | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 44.9 percent | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 43.9 percent | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 42.8 percent | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 41.1 percent | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 39.1 percent | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 37.3 percent | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 35.1 percent | -5.9% |
| 2016 | 33.4 percent | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 31.8 percent | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 31.5 percent | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 32.1 percent | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 33.9 percent | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 35.7 percent | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 36.2 percent | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 37.2 percent | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 48.31 percent | 44.9 percent | 50.3 percent | 9 |
| 2010s | 36.81 percent | 31.5 percent | 43.9 percent | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.75 percent | 33.9 percent | 37.2 percent | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 4 Madagascar 39.5 percent compare
- 5 Syrian Arab Republic 39 percent compare
- 6 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 38.5 percent compare
- 8 Kenya 36.8 percent compare
- 9 Liberia 35.5 percent compare
- 10 Chad 32 percent compare
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.3261 °C (2026)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 19.51 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 19.51 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 19.51 (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5273 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.2981 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories in Zambia?
- Share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories in Zambia was 37.2 percent 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 share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 50.3 percent in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.5 percent in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories?
- Zambia ranks 7th out of 169 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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 Share of people who are undernourished vs. daily supply of calories. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the population whose daily food intake does not provide enough energy to maintain a normal, active, and healthy life.