2.1.1 Prevalence of undernourishment

Indicator 2.1.1 - Prevalence of undernourishment

The prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) is an estimate of the proportion of the population whose habitual food consumption is insufficient to provide the dietary energy levels that are required to maintain a normal active and healthy life. It is expressed as a percentage. This indicator will measure progress towards SDG Target 2.1.

Target 2.1

By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.

Indicator 2.1.1: Progress Assessment

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Impact

The PoU offers countries a measure to track progress made in stamping out hunger in a way consistent with the past. Together with indicator 2.1.2, this is ideal for evidence-based policymaking to ensure no one and no area is left behind and to bring the global hunger figure down to zero.

Undernourishment means that a person is not able to acquire enough food to meet the daily minimum dietary energy requirements, over a period of one year. FAO defines hunger as being synonymous with chronic undernourishment.

Key results

After rising sharply from 2019 to 2021, global hunger, measured by the prevalence of undernourishment, has persisted at nearly the same level for three consecutive years, still affecting 9.1 percent of the population in 2023 compared with 7.5 percent in 2019.

It is estimated that between 713 and 757 million people, corresponding to 8.9 and 9.4 percent of the global population, respectively, may have faced hunger in 2023. Considering the mid-range (733 million), this is about 152 million more people than in 2019.

While hunger is still on the rise in Africa, it has remained relatively unchanged in Asia, and there is notable progress in Latin America. Africa remains the region with the largest proportion of the population facing hunger – 20.4 percent, compared with 8.1 percent in Asia, 6.2 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 7.3 percent in Oceania. However, Asia is still home to more than half of all those facing hunger in the world.

It is projected that 582 million people will be chronically undernourished at the end of the decade, revealing the daunting challenge of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger. By 2030, Africa will replace Asia as the region accounting for more than half the undernourished people in the world.

Highlights

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World

Interactive story - Putting a number on hunger

FAO Hunger Map 2021-2023

Elearning

SDG Indicator 2.1.1 - Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU)

02/06/2023

This course focuses on SDG Indicator 2.1.1, which is one of two indicators that focus on food insecurity. The PoU is an estimate of the proportion...

E-learning courses on SDG indicators (with digital badge certification)

01/05/2023

Multimedia

SDG 2 – Indicators of hunger and severity of food insecurity

01/01/2019

An overview of SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2, measuring hunger and severity of food insecurity.

Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators (2022)

01/09/2022

Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators offers detailed analyses and trends on selected indicators for which...

Capacity development

National Training Workshop on Food Security SDG Indicators (2.1.1 & 2.1.2) (Hanoi, Viet Nam)

07/10/2024 - 11/10/2024

In response to a request from the General Statistics...

Regional workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Lomé (Togo)

01/06/2024 - 07/06/2024

FAO hosted a regional workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 "Prevalence...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Bagdad (Iraq)

19/05/2024 - 23/05/2024

FAO is hosting a national workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 "Prevalence...

Virtual Event

Online training on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

27/03/2024

On March 27, FAO is delivering an online training on SDG indicators 2.1.1 "Prevalence of Undernourishment" and 2.1.2 "Prevalence of moderate or...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Yerevan (Armenia)

18/03/2024 - 22/03/2024

FAO is hosting a national workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 "Prevalence of Undernourishment" and 2.1.2 "Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity,...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Bamako (Mali)

26/02/2024 - 01/03/2024

FAO is hosting a national workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 Prevalence of Undernourishment and 2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity,...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Maputo (Mozambique)

11/12/2023 - 15/12/2023

FAO, in collaboration with the National Institute of Statistics (INE) and the Technical Secretariat for Food and Nutritional Security (SETSAN), is...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Lusaka (Zambia)

27/11/2023 - 30/11/2023

FAO is facilitating a capacity building workshop on monitoring the evolution of Food insecurity using standard FAO and SDG 2.1 Indicators from 27...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Islamabad (Pakistan)

20/11/2023 - 24/11/2023

A technical workshop on SDG food security indicators is being conducted by FAO during 20-24 November 2023 in Islamabad, Pakistan.

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Amman (Jordan)

19/11/2023 - 23/11/2023

FAO is organising a technical capacity building workshop to strengthen the capacity of the Department of Statistics (DoS) in Jordan to understand...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Dodoma (United Republic of Tanzania)

06/11/2023 - 11/11/2023

As a follow up to the Validation Meeting of the EAC Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) Monitoring Framework, FAO is conducting a technical training...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Dili (Timor-Leste)

06/11/2023 - 10/11/2023

FAO is conducting a technical workshop during 6-10 November 2023 in Dili, Timor-Leste to enhance the capacity of national stakeholders on food security...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Astana (Kazakhstan)

28/09/2023 - 22/09/2023

Following the request of the Bureau of National Statistics (BNS) of the Republic of Kazakhstan, FAO is hosting a technical training workshop for...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Blantyre (Malawi)

18/09/2023 - 22/09/2023

FAO is hosting a technical training workshop for calculating SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2, using the Malawi Household Budget Survey 2018, 2020...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Dar Es Salaam (United Republic of Tanzania)

04/06/2023 - 10/06/2023

FAO is conducting a technical workshop to review, discuss and validate the Draft East African Community Regional Framework for Assessing Food and...

Virtual Event

Remote workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

01/03/2023 - 30/03/2023

FAO is conducting a remote workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 Prevalence of Undernourishment and 2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity,...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Chisinau (Moldova)

28/02/2023 - 09/12/2023

A technical workshop on SDG food security indicators is being conducted by FAO during 3-9 December 2023 in Chisinau, Moldova.

Virtual Event

CFS Side Event: Data for Food Security: Taking forward the CFS data workstream

10/02/2021

Despite the world's commitment to end hunger by 2030, recent findings show that the world is not on track to achieve this crucial target. Furthermore,...

Naypyidaw (Myanmar (Burma))

National Workshop on SDG Indicator 2.1.1

26/08/2019 - 30/08/2019

The proposed training workshop aimed to provide information on SDG indicator 2.1.1 (PoU) as part of the ongoing regional project 'TCP/RAS/3618: Strengthening...