Nigeria had the highest number of malnourished people in Africa in 2023, with 45.4 million

Key takeaways:

  • In Africa, 275 million people were recorded to be malnourished in 2023.
  • Nigeria led the list of countries in Africa with the highest number of malnourished people (45.40 million), making 16.5% of the total.
  • Nigeria was followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo with 40.7 million, 14.8% of the total.
  • Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Kenya made up almost 50% of the total number of malnourished people in Africa.

In 2023, over 275 million people across Africa were recorded as malnourished, making over 18% of the African population. This staggering number reflects a deepening crisis affecting millions of households across the continent. Nigeria topped the list of African countries with the highest number of malnourished people with 45.40 million people, accounting for over 16.5% of Africa’s total malnourished population.

The Democratic Republic of Congo followed closely behind [Nigeria, with] 40.7 million people recorded as malnourished. This figure represents 14.8% of Africa’s total malnourished population. Collectively, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Kenya accounted for almost 50% of the total number of malnourished people in Africa.

Source:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Period:

2023
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The national average Cost of Healthy Diet (CoHD) in Nigeria increased by over 74% in 2024, surging from ₦858 in January to ₦1,495 in December
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  • South South follows at ₦1,714.
  • South East (₦1,436) and North East (₦1,430) sit close to the national midpoint.
  • North Central and North West record the lowest CoHD at ₦1,372 and ₦1,296, respectively.
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  • The regional disparities in food cost highlight the uneven impact of economic realities across Nigeria’s zones.
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