Health Issues in Africa
Malnutrition and Childhood Undernutrition
Sub-Saharan Africa hosts approximately 62 million stunted children under five. About 45% of all child deaths in Africa are linked to malnutrition.
62M
stunted children under five in SSA
UNICEF/WHO/World Bank JME, 2025
45%
of child deaths linked to malnutrition
WHO AFRO
13M
children malnourished in Eastern/Southern Africa (2025)
UNICEF, 2025
→ Slow decline; hunger rising
Burden
Sub-Saharan Africa hosts approximately 62 million stunted children under five — second only to South Asia. About one third of under-five deaths in Africa are linked to malnutrition.
Wasting
In Eastern and Southern Africa, 13 million children are projected to be malnourished in 2025, with 2 million South Sudanese under-fives at risk of acute malnutrition.
Drivers
- Conflict (Sudan, South Sudan, DRC, Ethiopia, Sahel)
- Drought and climate shocks
- Food price inflation
- Breastfeeding gaps and maternal undernutrition
- Low RUTF coverage
Africa is also experiencing a double burden — child overweight rising even where stunting persists.
“About 45% of all child deaths in Africa are linked to malnutrition.”WHO AFRO