Prevalence of starving people worldwide 2022, by region

In 2022, the rate of undernourishment worldwide was 9.2 percent. The region with the largest share of undernourished people was Sub-Saharan Africa, with 22.5 percent. 

Undernourished people worldwide

Southern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa have some of the highest numbers of undernourished people in the world, totaling 314 million and 262 million, respectively in 2022. Based on the World Hunger Index 2022, Yemen and the Central African Republic were among the most affected countries by hunger and malnutrition. Worldwide, there were about 735 million people suffering from malnutrition in 2022. 

Malnutrition

Malnourishment occurs when a person’s diet consists of too little or too much of certain nutrients. Undernutrition occurs when a person does not intake enough calories, protein, or micronutrients. One of the primary causes of malnutrition is due to limited or lack of accessibility to affordable nutritious foods. Malnutrition is considered to contribute to over a third of child deaths globally. In Asia, an estimated 77 million cases of stunting, which is the primary effect of malnutrition, were recorded for children under the age of five in 2022. The FAO reports that food security and nutrition commitments by national governments are essential in eradicating the world hunger problem. Agricultural productivity, accessibility to land, service, and markets, rural development strategies, and social protection are needed to ensure a reduction in malnutrition.