Tag: Malnutrition statistics

According to a September 2024 USDA report on 2023 data, approximately 13.5% of US households experienced food insecurity, revealing a complex picture of what percent of America is malnourished. However, modern malnutrition encompasses more than just food scarcity; it also includes overnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, affecting people across all income levels and body types.

As of 2024, approximately 673 million people globally faced hunger, a decline from 2023 but still representing 8.3% of the world's population. However, this number only tells part of the story, as malnutrition includes more than just hunger and affects billions of individuals worldwide in various forms, including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity.

According to a March 2025 Urban Institute report, 27.1% of nonelderly adults faced food insecurity in 2024, a core driver of malnutrition. The precise percentage of people with malnutrition in the US is complex to define, as it encompasses undernutrition, nutrient deficiencies, and the "obesity paradox." Understanding these multiple facets is key to grasping the issue's true scope.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition—in all its forms—is one of the world’s most serious and least-addressed developmental challenges. It encompasses undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight and obesity, presenting a complex global health crisis. While global efforts have reduced some forms, progress has stalled or reversed in many regions, leaving billions affected.

According to UNICEF, globally in 2024, an estimated 6.6% of children under 5 suffered from wasting, a severe form of acute malnutrition. This critical issue encompasses deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and nutrients, profoundly impacting health and development worldwide.

According to the UN, over 2.3 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023. This stark figure highlights the complexities behind the question of how many people in the world do not eat to maintain health, a problem encompassing both undernutrition and overnutrition.

According to UNICEF and WHO estimates, in 2022, 149 million children under five were stunted and 45 million were wasted, highlighting the critical state of global malnutrition. The World Health Organization defines this issue as deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's energy and nutrient intake.

According to the World Food Programme, an estimated 8.3 percent of the global population, or 673 million people, faced hunger in 2024. These statistics provide a critical look into what percent of the global population is malnourished and highlight the multifaceted nature of food insecurity and nutritional health worldwide.

According to the UN's State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 report, Western Asia saw a worrying rise in hunger in 2024, affecting 12.7% of the population, even as global rates slightly declined. This uneven progress highlights the persistent challenges facing the world's most populous continent.

According to UNICEF, 6.6% of children under 5 suffered from wasting in 2024, highlighting the persistent global challenge of malnutrition. The crisis is not evenly distributed, with certain regions and countries bearing a disproportionately heavy burden of this public health emergency.