Share of people who are undernourished in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Share of people who are undernourished was 19.7 percent in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of people who are undernourished in Ethiopia, 2001–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in percent.
Analysis
In 2023, share of people who are undernourished in Ethiopia stood at 19.7 percent.
That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and up 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people who are undernourished in Ethiopia peaked at 46.1 percent in 2001 and was at its lowest, 13 percent, in 2016.
Ethiopia ranks 28th of 169 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Share of people who are undernourished in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | percent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 46.1 percent | — |
| 2002 | 43.2 percent | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 41.6 percent | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 39.1 percent | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 36.4 percent | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 32.7 percent | -10.2% |
| 2007 | 29.4 percent | -10.1% |
| 2008 | 26.3 percent | -10.5% |
| 2009 | 23.9 percent | -9.1% |
| 2010 | 22.4 percent | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 21.2 percent | -5.4% |
| 2012 | 19.8 percent | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 17.7 percent | -10.6% |
| 2014 | 15.2 percent | -14.1% |
| 2015 | 13.6 percent | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 13 percent | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 14.1 percent | +8.5% |
| 2018 | 16.1 percent | +14.2% |
| 2019 | 18.5 percent | +14.9% |
| 2020 | 20.3 percent | +9.7% |
| 2021 | 20.6 percent | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 20.2 percent | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 19.7 percent | -2.5% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 19.7 percent is below the median for low income countries, which is 24.1 percent, 82% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 19.7 percent is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.7 percent, 1.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.41 percent | 23.9 percent | 46.1 percent | 9 |
| 2010s | 17.16 percent | 13 percent | 22.4 percent | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.2 percent | 19.7 percent | 20.6 percent | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More reference data data for Ethiopia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6564 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 100.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.47 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people who are undernourished in Ethiopia?
- Share of people who are undernourished in Ethiopia was 19.7 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 recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 46.1 percent in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of people who are undernourished recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 13 percent in 2016.
- How does Ethiopia rank for share of people who are undernourished?
- Ethiopia ranks 28th out of 169 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of people who are undernourished rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population whose daily food intake does not provide enough energy to maintain a normal, active, and healthy life.