Nutrition and Wellness
Starvation Deaths by Country 2025
Starvation PEM Deaths (per 100k)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
5 Countries with the Most Starvation Deaths
39.0 per 100k
32.8 per 100k
30.9 per 100k
30.3 per 100k
26.0 per 100k
Country | Starvation PEM Deaths 2021 (per 100k)↓ | PEM Deaths Absolute Change 2011 to 2021 | PEM Deaths Relative Change 2011 to 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Sierra Leone | 39.0 | -18.4 | -32% |
 | South Sudan | 32.8 | 0.3 | 1% |
 | Somalia | 30.9 | NaN | -98% |
 | Mali | 30.3 | -0.2 | -1% |
 | Madagascar | 26.0 | -15.1 | -37% |
 | Kiribati | 22.5 | -4.0 | -15% |
 | Eritrea | 21.2 | -13.1 | -38% |
 | Indonesia | 13.8 | -2.9 | -17% |
 | Mozambique | 13.6 | -7.6 | -36% |
 | Malawi | 13.5 | -6.1 | -31% |
 | Djibouti | 13.1 | -8.7 | -40% |
 | Ethiopia | 12.2 | -9.0 | -42% |
 | Guatemala | 11.4 | -20.6 | -64% |
 | Kenya | 10.2 | -5.6 | -35% |
 | Ghana | 9.9 | -3.9 | -28% |
 | Lesotho | 9.9 | -2.7 | -22% |
 | Timor-Leste | 9.8 | -2.5 | -20% |
 | Rwanda | 9.7 | -4.7 | -33% |
 | Guinea | 9.4 | -6.3 | -40% |
 | Tanzania | 9.2 | -6.0 | -40% |
 | Liberia | 8.8 | -4.4 | -33% |
 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 8.7 | 3.9 | 82% |
 | Republic of the Congo | 8.1 | -2.9 | -27% |
 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 8.1 | 3.4 | 70% |
 | DR Congo | 7.9 | -9.2 | 54% |
 | Gambia | 7.5 | -2.0 | -21% |
 | Guyana | 7.0 | -0.6 | -7% |
 | Namibia | 6.7 | -2.6 | -28% |
 | Guinea-Bissau | 6.7 | -3.5 | -34% |
 | Sao Tome and Principe | 6.7 | -3.4 | -34% |
 | Haiti | 6.5 | -1.9 | -22% |
 | Eswatini | 6.3 | -2.9 | -32% |
 | Mexico | 6.0 | -3.3 | -36% |
 | Honduras | 6.0 | -1.3 | -18% |
 | Gabon | 5.6 | -2.1 | -28% |
 | Niger | 5.4 | -3.5 | -39% |
 | Nauru | 5.4 | -2.0 | -27% |
 | Niue | 5.2 | 0.9 | 21% |
 | Nepal | 5.1 | -2.3 | -31% |
 | Dominican Republic | 5.1 | -0.2 | -4% |
 | Laos | 5.1 | -3.1 | -38% |
 | Equatorial Guinea | 5.1 | -1.8 | -26% |
 | Philippines | 5.0 | -1.1 | -18% |
 | Solomon Islands | 5.0 | -0.9 | -15% |
 | South Africa | 4.9 | -2.5 | -34% |
 | Micronesia | 4.9 | -0.7 | -13% |
 | Marshall Islands | 4.9 | -1.4 | -22% |
 | Papua New Guinea | 4.6 | -0.7 | -14% |
 | Northern Mariana Islands | 4.5 | 0.5 | 12% |
 | Ivory Coast | 4.4 | -2.3 | -34% |
 | El Salvador | 4.4 | -0.6 | -13% |
 | Peru | 4.3 | -0.7 | -14% |
 | Mauritania | 3.8 | -1.8 | -32% |
 | Ecuador | 3.6 | -3.3 | -38% |
 | Paraguay | 3.6 | -0.7 | -17% |
 | Grenada | 3.6 | 2.0 | 122% |
 | Samoa | 3.4 | -0.2 | -5% |
 | Fiji | 3.2 | -0.5 | -15% |
 | Myanmar | 3.1 | -1.8 | -38% |
 | Saint Lucia | 3.1 | 1.2 | 65% |
 | Nicaragua | 3.0 | -1.8 | -37% |
 | Panama | 2.8 | -1.3 | -31% |
 | Senegal | 2.7 | -2.2 | -46% |
 | Seychelles | 2.4 | -0.4 | -14% |
 | Palau | 2.4 | -0.3 | -11% |
 | France | 2.2 | -0.2 | -9% |
 | Jamaica | 2.1 | -0.1 | -3% |
 | Dominica | 2.0 | 0.2 | 9% |
 | Suriname | 1.9 | -0.4 | -16% |
 | Maldives | 1.9 | -0.7 | -26% |
 | Sudan | 1.8 | -2.3 | -56% |
 | Nigeria | 1.6 | -1.6 | -50% |
 | Thailand | 1.5 | -0.2 | -13% |
 | Malaysia | 1.5 | -0.3 | -19% |
 | North Korea | 1.5 | -0.5 | -25% |
 | Norway | 1.5 | 1.0 | 186% |
 | Mauritius | 1.5 | 0.2 | 17% |
 | Pakistan | 1.3 | -1.5 | -53% |
 | Syria | 1.3 | -0.2 | -13% |
 | Puerto Rico | 1.3 | 0.5 | 63% |
 | India | 1.0 | -2.0 | -67% |
 | Guam | 1.0 | -0.4 | -29% |
 | Sri Lanka | 0.9 | -0.4 | -32% |
 | Czechia | 0.9 | 0.5 | 112% |
 | Greenland | 0.9 | -0.2 | -19% |
 | Luxembourg | 0.8 | 0.1 | 9% |
 | Iraq | 0.7 | -0.2 | -25% |
 | Saudi Arabia | 0.7 | -0.2 | -22% |
 | Morocco | 0.6 | -0.3 | -31% |
 | Taiwan | 0.6 | 0.1 | 29% |
 | Kazakhstan | 0.5 | 0.1 | 46% |
 | Portugal | 0.5 | 0.1 | 24% |
 | Costa Rica | 0.5 | -0.2 | -31% |
 | Japan | 0.4 | -7% | |
 | Egypt | 0.4 | -0.2 | -38% |
 | Romania | 0.4 | 0.1 | 60% |
 | Cuba | 0.4 | 0.2 | 83% |
 | Sweden | 0.4 | 0.2 | 55% |
 | Switzerland | 0.4 | 0.1 | 22% |
 | Libya | 0.4 | -4% | |
 | Denmark | 0.4 | 0.1 | 41% |
 | Iran | 0.3 | -0.2 | -48% |
 | Italy | 0.3 | 0.1 | 35% |
 | Poland | 0.3 | 0.2 | 94% |
 | Netherlands | 0.3 | -5% | |
 | Israel | 0.3 | 7% | |
 | Palestine | 0.3 | -0.2 | -35% |
 | Qatar | 0.3 | -0.1 | -31% |
 | Iceland | 0.3 | 0.1 | 66% |
 | Russia | 0.2 | 0.1 | 86% |
 | Germany | 0.2 | 0.1 | 139% |
 | South Korea | 0.2 | -0.1 | -20% |
 | Spain | 0.2 | 22% | |
 | Jordan | 0.2 | -0.1 | -20% |
 | Hungary | 0.2 | 0.1 | 152% |
 | Lebanon | 0.2 | -0.1 | -24% |
 | Oman | 0.2 | -0.1 | -28% |
 | Moldova | 0.2 | 0.1 | 175% |
 | Lithuania | 0.2 | 0.1 | 108% |
 | Latvia | 0.2 | 0.2 | 204% |
 | Cyprus | 0.2 | -10% | |
 | Estonia | 0.2 | 0.1 | 105% |
 | Cook Islands | 0.2 | -2% | |
 | Tajikistan | 0.1 | -0.2 | -60% |
 | Kyrgyzstan | 0.1 | -0.1 | -63% |
 | Serbia | 0.1 | 8% | |
 | Singapore | 0.1 | -32% | |
 | Finland | 0.1 | 53% | |
 | Slovakia | 0.1 | -12% | |
 | Ireland | 0.1 | -8% | |
 | New Zealand | 0.1 | -4% | |
 | Mongolia | 0.1 | -0.1 | -39% |
 | Slovenia | 0.1 | 0.1 | 169% |
 | North Macedonia | 0.1 | -26% | |
 | Montenegro | 0.1 | -4% | |
 | Malta | 0.1 | 26% | |
 | Monaco | 0.1 | -3% | |
 | San Marino | 0.1 | -33% | |
 | Greece | 71% | ||
 | Kuwait | -23% | ||
 | Croatia | 140% | ||
 | Georgia | -56% |
- PEM stands for Protein-energy malnutrition.
- Data shown reflect the age-standardized average number of deaths per 100,000 individuals due to protein-energy malnutrition (starvation).
Highlighted Countries
Angola
Angola has the highest rate of starvation deaths by country in Africa and in the world. The rate is an astounding 101.32 deaths per 100,000 people. This rate is often attributed to the food insecurity caused by the civil war, which lasted from 1975 to 2002. The war disrupted food production and led to widespread food insecurity, with many agricultural areas damaged by landmines and heavy fighting. Food shipments were often delayed or obstructed, and although the war ended over two decades ago, Angola still faces challenges with food access in certain regions, especially during droughts or economic downturns.
Bolivia
Bolivia has the highest rate of death from malnutrition in Latin America. The rate of starvation deaths in Guatemala stands at 31.79 per 100,000. While many Latin American nations struggle with high rates of malnutrition, Bolivia is the worst by far. Bolivia’s malnutrition problem largely stems from poor infrastructure development, which in turn is often linked to widespread political corruption. Bolivia does have a productive agricultural sector, but many rural and indigenous communities still face food insecurity despite the country’s resources.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh has the highest starvation rate in Asia. Its rate of malnutrition deaths is 56.36 per 100,000. Bangladesh is a developing country with a large population and a rapidly growing economy. Unfortunately, it also faces significant income inequality. Most residents of large cities like Dhaka enjoy a higher standard of living, while many people in rural areas struggle. A large portion of the rural population relies on subsistence farming, which leaves them vulnerable to food insecurity.
Haiti
Haiti has the highest rate of starvation deaths in North America at 8.23 per 100,000. As with many of the countries on this list, political corruption and instability are the primary causes of its food insecurity. Haiti is actually a very fertile country with a large agricultural industry. However, much of the country’s produce is exported. It is often sold to the United States or to the neighboring Dominican Republic. Relatively little of Haiti’s produce is consumed by Haitians.
Albania
Albania has the highest rate of starvation deaths in Europe. While its rate of 0.9 starvation deaths per 100,000 only ranks it 130th in the world, malnutrition is still considered to be a problem in Albania. The country’s relatively high starvation rate stems mostly from economic challenges and a contrast between food access in rural and mountainous regions and urban areas. While cities have seen some economic growth, the benefits rarely reach isolated communities, where subsistence farming is common but insufficient to meet nutritional needs. In addition, political instability is also a factor.
