Share of people who are undernourished in Libya
Libya: Share of people who are undernourished was 16.5 percent in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of people who are undernourished in Libya, 2001–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in percent.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of people who are undernourished in Libya is 16.5 percent, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 68.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people who are undernourished in Libya peaked at 16.6 percent in 2022 and was at its lowest, 3.7 percent, in 2001.
Libya ranks 35th of 169 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Share of people who are undernourished in Libya, year by year
| Year | percent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3.7 percent | — |
| 2002 | 4 percent | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 4.3 percent | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 4.6 percent | +7.0% |
| 2005 | 4.9 percent | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 5.2 percent | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 5.5 percent | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 5.9 percent | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 6.3 percent | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 7.1 percent | +12.7% |
| 2011 | 8.1 percent | +14.1% |
| 2012 | 9 percent | +11.1% |
| 2013 | 9.8 percent | +8.9% |
| 2014 | 10.2 percent | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 10.7 percent | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 11 percent | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 11.4 percent | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 11.9 percent | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 13.2 percent | +10.9% |
| 2020 | 14.5 percent | +9.8% |
| 2021 | 16 percent | +10.3% |
| 2022 | 16.6 percent | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 16.5 percent | -0.6% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 16.5 percent is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.45 percent, 3.7× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Libya's 16.5 percent is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7 percent, 2.4× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.93 percent | 3.7 percent | 6.3 percent | 9 |
| 2010s | 10.24 percent | 7.1 percent | 13.2 percent | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.9 percent | 14.5 percent | 16.6 percent | 4 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More reference data data for Libya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0637 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.021 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2136 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0873 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1144 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people who are undernourished in Libya?
- Share of people who are undernourished in Libya was 16.5 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 Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 16.6 percent in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of people who are undernourished recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7 percent in 2001.
- How does Libya rank for share of people who are undernourished?
- Libya ranks 35th out of 169 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of people who are undernourished rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya 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.
Download this data
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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.