Share of people who are undernourished in Pakistan
Pakistan: Share of people who are undernourished was 16.5 percent in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of people who are undernourished in Pakistan, 2001–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in percent.
Analysis
Pakistan recorded 16.5 percent for share of people who are undernourished in 2023.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and up 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people who are undernourished in Pakistan peaked at 21 percent in 2002 and was at its lowest, 10.9 percent, in 2018.
Pakistan ranks 35th 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | percent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 20.4 percent | — |
| 2002 | 21 percent | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 20.2 percent | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 18.3 percent | -9.4% |
| 2005 | 16.9 percent | -7.7% |
| 2006 | 15.7 percent | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 15.1 percent | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 15.1 percent | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 15.4 percent | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 15.5 percent | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 15.4 percent | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 15 percent | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 14.7 percent | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 14.2 percent | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 13.3 percent | -6.3% |
| 2016 | 11.5 percent | -13.5% |
| 2017 | 11.7 percent | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 10.9 percent | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 12.9 percent | +18.3% |
| 2020 | 13.4 percent | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 16.4 percent | +22.4% |
| 2022 | 16.7 percent | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 16.5 percent | -1.2% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 16.5 percent is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12 percent, 1.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Pakistan'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 | 17.57 percent | 15.1 percent | 21 percent | 9 |
| 2010s | 13.51 percent | 10.9 percent | 15.5 percent | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.75 percent | 13.4 percent | 16.7 percent | 4 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More reference data data for Pakistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 91.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 260 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.79 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people who are undernourished in Pakistan?
- Share of people who are undernourished in Pakistan 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 21 percent in 2002.
- What is the lowest share of people who are undernourished recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.9 percent in 2018.
- How does Pakistan rank for share of people who are undernourished?
- Pakistan ranks 35th out of 169 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of people who are undernourished rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.