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Africa Hunger Statistics: Market Report & Data

Highlights: Africa Hunger Statistics

  • In Sub-Saharan Africa, one person in four is undernourished.
  • In 2019, about 67 million children under age five were estimated to be stunted in Africa.
  • In 2019, South Sudan had the highest prevalence of undernourishment, at nearly 60%.
  • Fewer than 50% of countries within Africa are on track to achieve the UN's target of zero hunger by 2030.
  • Almost 59 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa suffer from stunting due to malnutrition.
  • In East Africa, 31% of the population (107 million people) were undernourished in 2020.
  • Almost 3 in 10 children in Africa are underweight.
  • Central African Republic has the world’s highest hunger levels, followed by Chad and Yemen.
  • 7.6% of Ethiopia’s children are afflicted by acute malnutrition.
  • In Zimbabwe, 3.7 million people in rural areas are predicted to face food insecurity in 2022.
  • 4.3 million children under 5 in Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2020 were suffering from acute malnutrition.
  • In South Sudan, 2.2 million children below the age of five were estimated to be acutely malnourished in 2021.
  • Only 6% of children between 6 to 23 months old in Sub-Saharan Africa consume a minimally acceptable diet.
  • School feeding programs benefit around 65 million primary school children in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • In 2021, Lesotho faced a 27% increase in severe food insecurity compared to 2019.

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As we delve into the emerging narratives surrounding Africa, one of the issues that continues to steal focus is the continent’s persistent struggle with hunger. This blog post aims to underscore the current situation through a deep analysis of the latest Africa Hunger Statistics. From showcasing the stark disparities between regions, addressing the varying causative factors to elucidating on the ongoing efforts against this human catastrophe, we’ll take a thorough, data-driven approach. It is essential to grasp these statistics in order to conceptualize the scale of the problem, identify vulnerable communities, and drive effective strategies to combat this grave issue.

The Latest Africa Hunger Statistics Unveiled

In Sub-Saharan Africa, one person in four is undernourished.

Unveiling a stark reality, the numerical testament highlights that sub-Saharan Africa faces an alarming state of culinary insufficiency with one in every four individuals grappling with undernourishment. Infused in a blog about Africa’s Hunger Statistics, this data paints a distressing image of food security in the region, acknowledging the severity of the hunger crisis. It serves as a call to action for governments, NGOs, social enterprises, and the international community to amplify their fight against malnutrition and food scarcity. This statistic also underscores a critical need for economic development, policy reform, and sustainable agricultural practices, thereby potently drawing attention to a crisis that must be urgently addressed.

In 2019, about 67 million children under age five were estimated to be stunted in Africa.

Highlighting the startling figure of approximately 67 million children under-five enduring stunting in Africa in 2019 unveils a distressing facet of the continent’s hunger crisis. Being an alarming manifestation of chronic undernutrition, stunting does not only affect individual growth and cognitive development but also projects grim implications for the concerned nation’s long-term economic productivity and human resource potential. Therefore, this statistic serves as a compelling driving force, propelling urgency and focus towards concerted interventions aimed at nutritional improvement, food security enhancement, and poverty reduction strategies in Africa.

In 2019, South Sudan had the highest prevalence of undernourishment, at nearly 60%.

Highlighting South Sudan’s staggering undernourishment rate of almost 60% in 2019 can serve as a stark reminder of the severity and pervasiveness of hunger in the African continent. In an examination of Africa’s Hunger Statistics, this data delivers a potent punch, underscoring the urgent necessity for change and constructive action. With South Sudan standing as the crest of this crisis wave, it draws attention to the enormous challenges faced by nations embroiled in conflict and political instability, where food insecurity becomes yet another consequence of societal unrest. This figure, deeply troubling as it is, prompts a deeper conversation about the complex causes of hunger and the multi-faceted solutions required to combat it throughout Africa.

Fewer than 50% of countries within Africa are on track to achieve the UN’s target of zero hunger by 2030.

In the framework of Africa’s hunger statistics, the statistic that states ‘Fewer than 50% of countries within Africa are on track to achieve the UN’s target of zero hunger by 2030’ acts as a stark reminder of the prevailing food security crisis on the continent. This chilling reality not only communicates the gravity of the current state of affairs but also sheds light on the necessary mobilization of resources needed to address the issue. It serves as a call to action for policy makers, humanitarian aid organizations, and global citizens alike, underscoring the urgency for innovative strategies and interventions to overcome the persistent problem of hunger and malnutrition. This statistic, therefore, is a poignant reflection of the challenges that lie ahead on the path to realizing a hunger-free Africa.

Almost 59 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa suffer from stunting due to malnutrition.

Highlighting that almost 59 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa suffer from stunting due to malnutrition paints a stark and alarming portrait of the depths of the hunger crisis that plagues the region. In the unfolding narrative of Africa’s hunger scenario, this number serves as a potent symbol of the multi-generational impact malnutrition exerts on Africa’s youngest citizens. It instantly propels the reader towards cognizance about how hunger is not only a daily battle for survival but also an insidious enemy, silently undermining the physical and cognitive potential of millions of children, thereby robbing the continent of its future growth and prosperity. Therefore, it’s an essential statistic in any blog post discussing Africa Hunger Statistics to illustrate the urgent need for effective and sustainable interventions.

In East Africa, 31% of the population (107 million people) were undernourished in 2020.

Highlighting that, in 2020 alone, a staggering 31% of the East African population equivalent to 107 million people battled undernourishment, serves to dramatically illustrate the depth and severity of the hunger crisis in the region. This compelling statistic—which expresses not just an abstract percentage, but a vast human count—bolsters the broader narrative of persistent food-security challenges in Africa. In a blog post dedicated to Africa’s hunger statistics, this number becomes a focal point: a stark indication of the scale of the food shortage problem that the continent grapples with, contributing powerfully to the overall dialogue on the urgent need for effective, context-specific solutions to alleviate this rampant malnutrition.

Almost 3 in 10 children in Africa are underweight.

Drawing our focus towards the alarming and quite distressing reality that lurks within the vibrant continent of Africa, we uncover the statistic stating that ‘Almost 3 in 10 children in Africa are underweight.’ This figure, more than just a random number, paints an ominous backdrop for an ongoing crisis, reflecting upon a widespread prevalence of malnutrition and hinting towards systemic food insecurity that has ensnared the continent. It underpins the severity of the hunger problem, and its effect on the African youth, their health, and ultimately their future, urging global attention and immediate intervention to nourish both the bodies and the potential that lies within each child.

Central African Republic has the world’s highest hunger levels, followed by Chad and Yemen.

Painting a poignant portrait of hunger, the statistic serves as a stark headline, revealing the Central African Republic as the epicenter of global hunger, closely trailed by Chad and Yemen. In the context of a blog post about Africa Hunger Statistics, it underscores the urgency of food insecurity issues in Africa, grabbing the reader’s attention concerning the severity of life-threatening hunger experienced in these countries. This compelling figure feeds into the narrative of the blog post, tying together subsequent discussions around the depth, causes, and possible solutions to Africa’s acute hunger problem. It throws open the doors to discussions on aid, policy changes, and infrastructure development aimed at addressing these persistent hunger challenges.

7.6% of Ethiopia’s children are afflicted by acute malnutrition.

Painting a troubling picture of Africa’s child hunger crisis, the haunting statistic that 7.6% of Ethiopia’s children suffer from acute malnutrition irrefutably underlines the severity of the issue. Such a graphic percentage clearly articulates the distressing enormity of preventable child suffering in one of Africa’s most populated nations, turning cold numbers into a desperate cry for increased international attention, intervention, and action. The disturbing reality of acute hunger faced by these young Ethiopians acts as a stark reminder of high-unresolved malnutrition rates in Africa and underscores the urgency to implement sustainable solutions for reversing this heartbreaking trend.

In Zimbabwe, 3.7 million people in rural areas are predicted to face food insecurity in 2022.

Forecasting hunger problems for 3.7 million rural dwellers in Zimbabwe in 2022 paints a grim picture of food insecurity in the African continent. In a blog post dedicated to Africa’s hunger statistics, the Zimbabwean predicament acts as a pivotal reference point, shedding light on the continent’s massive struggle against hunger. It amplifies the urgent call for sustainable solutions to boost agricultural output, enhance food distribution systems and ultimately improve the living standards of Africa’s rural populations. This alarming statistic is a wake-up call to policy makers, relief organisations, and the international community-at-large, urging them to scale up their efforts against the prevalent and impending food crises in Africa.

4.3 million children under 5 in Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2020 were suffering from acute malnutrition.

Unveiling a stark reality, the eye-opening statistic highlights an alarmingly high figure: 4.3 million children under the age of five experienced acute malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2020. Strikingly, these statistics inject gravity into the narrative of Africa’s Hunger crisis, providing a concrete and heartbreaking example of the crisis’s depth and reach. These numbers are not just cold facts; they represent individual children, each with their own story of struggle and survival, contributing significantly to the urgency for comprehensive initiatives and sustainable solutions to transform the existing food insecurity landscape in Africa. In the context of a blog post about Africa Hunger Statistics, this number brings home the severity and proximity of Africa’s fight with Hunger.

In South Sudan, 2.2 million children below the age of five were estimated to be acutely malnourished in 2021.

Highlighting the alarming statistic of 2.2 million children below the five-year mark facing acute malnutrition in South Sudan in 2021, underscores an urgent crisis that demands immediate attention. As a piercing insight into Africa’s hunger plight, this reality frame reinforces the daunting challenges faced in assuaging chronic hunger, particularly among children who are the most vulnerable. The shocking incidence in this single nation marks a representative symptom of a far-reaching issue impacting multiple countries across the African continent. As such, it serves as a poignant reminder that collective, persistent efforts are needed to surmount this life-threatening hurdle.

Only 6% of children between 6 to 23 months old in Sub-Saharan Africa consume a minimally acceptable diet.

Spotlighting the sobering reality of food insecurity, the figure, a mere 6% of children between 6 to 23 months old in Sub-Saharan Africa receive a minimally acceptable diet, paints a grim portrait of childhood malnutrition. The statistic underscores the pervasive struggle against hunger and malnutrition deeply entrenched in the region. It drives home the urgent need for actionable initiatives, encompassing access to nutritious food and poverty alleviation programs, in order for these innocent children to grow healthily and unlock their potential. As such, it is a pivotal focal point in any discourse examining Africa’s hunger statistics, and its implications ripple into wider debates concerning health, education, and economic development.

School feeding programs benefit around 65 million primary school children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Unveiling the dimensions of nutritional scarcity in Sub-Saharan Africa, the figure highlighting the assistance of school feeding programs to approximately 65 million primary school children paints a compelling yet unsettling picture. In essence, this statistic elevates the discourse on Africa’s hunger dilemma, illuminating the vital role of sustaining schemes like these amidst rising food insecurities. Furthermore, it underscores educational incentives as pivotal in tackling malnutrition, while embodying a silent call for escalated efforts to mitigate Africa’s hunger plight, thus enhancing the richness and depth of conversations about Africa Hunger Statistics for the readers of the blog post.

In 2021, Lesotho faced a 27% increase in severe food insecurity compared to 2019.

The statistic depicting a 27% rise in severe food insecurity in Lesotho in 2021, compared to 2019, holds profound significance within the framework of Africa’s Hunger Statistics. This escalation not only offers a stark disclosure into the exacerbated realities of hunger in African nations, but also emphasizes the escalating crisis in the Southern African region. It underscores deeper socioeconomic issues — including climate change, displacement, and economic stagnation — that can accelerate food insecurity. Moreover, with Lesotho’s instance, the narrative of hunger’s alarming growth in Africa gains a palpable and sobering clarity, necessitating urgent global attention and action.

Conclusion

The statistical overview of hunger in Africa provides crucial insights into the seriousness and persistence of food insecurity in the continent. Marked by high proportions of undernourished populations, high prevalence of severe food insecurity, stunting, wasting, and mortality rates among children under five, the situation necessitates immediate and long-term interventions. While progress has been made in certain regions, the overall statistics affirm that food security initiatives still have a long way to go. Further research is imperative for forecasting trends, identifying effective strategies, and intensifying international commitment towards eradicating hunger in Africa.

References

0. – https://www.www.undp.org

1. – https://www.www.un.org

2. – https://www.www.ifpri.org

3. – https://www.www.ourworldindata.org

4. – https://www.reliefweb.int

5. – https://www.www.concern.net

6. – https://www.igad.int

7. – https://www.www.wfp.org

8. – https://www.www.who.int

9. – https://www.www.usaid.gov

10. – https://www.www.worldbank.org

11. – https://www.www.unicef.org

FAQs

How many people in Africa are currently suffering from hunger?

According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 250 million people, or nearly 20% of Africa's population, suffer from severe food insecurity and malnutrition as of 2021.

Which is the most affected region in Africa in terms of hunger?

Eastern Africa is the most hunger-stricken region, with approximately 31.8% of the population experiencing severe food insecurity.

What are the main causes of hunger in Africa?

There are multiple factors contributing to hunger in Africa, which include poverty, conflict, climate and weather, lack of investment in agriculture, and unstable markets.

What is the trend of hunger rates in Africa over the years?

Unfortunately, the rate of hunger in Africa has been on the rise since 2015 due to factors such as conflicts, climate change, and the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19.

What measures are being taken to combat hunger in Africa?

Several initiatives and measures are being taken to combat hunger in Africa, such as improving agricultural productivity, empowering small farmers, creating safety nets for the most vulnerable, and promoting sustainable food systems. Organizations like the World Food Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and various NGOs are working on these fronts.

How we write our statistic reports:

We have not conducted any studies ourselves. Our article provides a summary of all the statistics and studies available at the time of writing. We are solely presenting a summary, not expressing our own opinion. We have collected all statistics within our internal database. In some cases, we use Artificial Intelligence for formulating the statistics. The articles are updated regularly.

See our Editorial Process.

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