Which Region Has the Highest Prevalence of Undernutrition?

December 15, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the World Bank, undernutrition affects hundreds of millions of people globally, with the burden falling heaviest on specific regions. This persistent issue, measured by indicators like stunting and wasting, continues to pose a significant obstacle to human development and well-being.

Quick Summary

This article identifies Sub-Saharan Africa as the region with the highest prevalence of undernutrition, detailing the complex drivers, and contrasting its statistics with other vulnerable regions like South Asia. It examines the deep-seated issues contributing to this crisis, including poverty, conflict, and climate change, and outlines key strategies for intervention.

Key Points

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence: Data from global reports consistently identifies Sub-Saharan Africa as the region with the highest percentage of undernourished people, with prevalence rates reaching nearly 20% in 2022.
Prevalence is highest in Central and Eastern Africa: Within Sub-Saharan Africa, subregions like Central and Eastern Africa face the most severe rates of undernourishment, at around 29% in 2022.
South Asia also faces a significant burden: Due to its large population, South Asia accounts for a huge number of affected individuals, particularly for child stunting, though its prevalence rates are showing faster improvement than Africa.
Conflict and climate are key drivers: Major factors contributing to undernutrition, especially in Africa, include conflict, political instability, and extreme weather events that disrupt food production.
Poverty and inequality amplify the issue: High poverty levels, coupled with gender and wealth inequalities, are significant determinants of malnutrition in both Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, affecting access to nutritious food.
Undernutrition affects children disproportionately: Children are particularly vulnerable to undernutrition, with nearly half of deaths among children under five linked to this issue globally. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia account for the vast majority of stunted and wasted children.

Mapping the Global Undernutrition Crisis

For decades, international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have meticulously tracked and reported on the state of global malnutrition. The data consistently points to a clear, sobering answer when asking which of the following regions of the world has the highest prevalence of undernutrition: Sub-Saharan Africa. The region not only has the highest percentage of undernourished people but also continues to see the total number of affected individuals rise, unlike other parts of the world.

Sub-Saharan Africa: The Epicenter of Undernutrition

In 2022, data showed that nearly 282 million people in Africa were undernourished, representing approximately 20% of the continent's population. Within this vast region, specific subregions and countries face particularly severe challenges. For instance, in 2022, Central and Eastern Africa recorded prevalence rates of around 29%, significantly higher than the continental average. Furthermore, the burden of child malnutrition is staggering, with UNICEF reporting in 2024 that Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region where the number of stunted children continues to increase.

Drivers of Undernutrition in Africa:

Conflict and Instability: Protracted conflicts and political instability in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan disrupt food production, displace populations, and block humanitarian access, making it difficult for people to secure sufficient food.
Climate Change and Shocks: Extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, devastate agricultural systems, directly impacting food availability. Many agricultural livelihoods are highly sensitive to these climatic variations.
Poverty and Economic Shocks: High levels of poverty make nutritious food unaffordable for many families, who are further impacted by global economic slowdowns and inflation.
Inadequate Health Systems: Limited access to clean water, proper sanitation, and essential health services exacerbates nutritional problems, as diseases like diarrhea prevent nutrient absorption.

Comparing Undernutrition Across Regions

While Sub-Saharan Africa carries the heaviest burden, other regions also face significant undernutrition challenges, albeit with different trends and dynamics. The following table provides a comparison of undernutrition indicators, highlighting key differences.


Indicator	Sub-Saharan Africa	South Asia	Latin America & Caribbean
Prevalence of Undernourishment	Highest globally (approx. 20% of population)	Decreasing trend, but large number of people still affected	Significant progress over time, but pockets of high prevalence exist
Prevalence of Child Stunting	Very high (approx. 30% in 2022)	Very high (approx. 30.7% in 2022), but showing more rapid reduction progress than Africa	Much lower than Africa and Asia
Number of Undernourished People	282 million in 2022 and increasing	Accounts for largest number of stunted children (56 million in 2024)	Decreasing in both prevalence and numbers
Key Drivers	Conflict, climate shocks, poor governance, high poverty	Poverty, wealth inequality, gender disparities	Economic instability, political turmoil, weather extremes

The Lingering Challenge in South Asia

South Asia, while showing more significant progress in reducing undernutrition prevalence rates over the past decades compared to Africa, still faces a massive overall burden due to its large population. As of 2024, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa together are home to roughly two-thirds of the world's stunted children. The region also struggles with other forms of malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies and a double burden of undernutrition and overnutrition. Factors like deeply entrenched poverty, poor sanitation, and gender inequality continue to contribute significantly to the problem.

Addressing the Crisis: A Multifaceted Approach

Effectively combatting undernutrition requires more than just emergency food aid. It demands a holistic, multi-sectoral approach that addresses the root causes. Organizations like UNICEF advocate for strengthening health systems, improving food security through sustainable agricultural practices, and expanding social protection programs. It also involves empowering women through education and ensuring access to nutritious food, particularly during the critical 1,000-day window from conception to a child's second birthday.

Conclusion

While undernutrition remains a global challenge, Sub-Saharan Africa consistently records the highest prevalence rates, compounded by complex issues such as conflict, climate change, and deep-seated poverty. The crisis is particularly devastating for children, with the numbers of stunted children in the region continuing to climb. Though regions like South Asia also have large populations affected by malnutrition, the statistical data on prevalence per capita firmly places Sub-Saharan Africa at the top of the list for urgent and sustained intervention. Addressing this disparity requires targeted investments and comprehensive strategies that build resilience and dismantle the systemic barriers to food security and good health.

For further reading on the state of global hunger, consider exploring the World Food Programme's global hunger crisis page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Undernutrition is a form of malnutrition that results from inadequate intake of protein, energy, and micronutrients. Malnutrition is a broader term encompassing both undernutrition and overnutrition (overweight and obesity).

Key causes include ongoing conflicts, extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, widespread poverty, food price inflation, and inadequate health infrastructure and services.

International bodies like the FAO and WHO measure undernutrition using indicators such as prevalence of undernourishment (PoU), child stunting (low height-for-age), child wasting (low weight-for-height), and micronutrient deficiencies.

South Asia's large population size means that even with a lower prevalence rate compared to Africa, the absolute number of people affected by undernutrition is substantial. The region has the highest number of stunted children globally.

Yes, some countries in the region have made significant progress. Examples include Ghana and Rwanda, which have implemented effective programs and policies to reduce undernutrition, particularly among children.

The long-term consequences are severe and include irreversible damage to cognitive and physical development, increased susceptibility to disease and death, reduced productivity, and significant economic losses for entire countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated global hunger and malnutrition by disrupting food supply chains, increasing poverty and food prices, and straining health systems. This led to a reversal of progress in many vulnerable regions.