Share of people who are undernourished in Zambia
Zambia: Share of people who are undernourished was 37.2 percent in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of people who are undernourished 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
In 2023, share of people who are undernourished in Zambia stood at 37.2 percent.
Compared with earlier readings it 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 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 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% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 37.2 percent is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12 percent, 3.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 37.2 percent is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.7 percent, 1.9× the median. (43 countries reporting)
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
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (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 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people who are undernourished in Zambia?
- Share of people who are undernourished 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 recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 50.3 percent in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of people who are undernourished recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.5 percent in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for share of people who are undernourished?
- Zambia ranks 7th out of 169 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of people who are undernourished 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. 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.