Share of people who are undernourished in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of people who are undernourished was 19.7 percent in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of people who are undernourished in Zimbabwe, 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 Zimbabwe is 19.7 percent, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.9% on the previous year and down 36.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people who are undernourished in Zimbabwe peaked at 34.3 percent in 2015 and was at its lowest, 19.7 percent, in 2023.
Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | percent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 32.8 percent | — |
| 2002 | 31.8 percent | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 31.4 percent | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 30.6 percent | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 29.5 percent | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 28.7 percent | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 27.9 percent | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 27.1 percent | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 28 percent | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 29.2 percent | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 29.9 percent | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 29.6 percent | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 31.1 percent | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 33.4 percent | +7.4% |
| 2015 | 34.3 percent | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 32.8 percent | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 30.9 percent | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 31 percent | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 30 percent | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 28.2 percent | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 24.8 percent | -12.1% |
| 2022 | 21.4 percent | -13.7% |
| 2023 | 19.7 percent | -7.9% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 19.7 percent is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12 percent, 1.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe'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 | 29.76 percent | 27.1 percent | 32.8 percent | 9 |
| 2010s | 31.22 percent | 29.2 percent | 34.3 percent | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.52 percent | 19.7 percent | 28.2 percent | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2024)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 122.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 5 (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 11,077 2010 = 100 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people who are undernourished in Zimbabwe?
- Share of people who are undernourished in Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 34.3 percent in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of people who are undernourished recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.7 percent in 2023.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of people who are undernourished?
- Zimbabwe ranks 28th out of 169 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of people who are undernourished rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.