Top 10 African Countries With the Lowest Malnutrition Rate in 2025

In Summary

• North and West Africa are showing steady progress and improvement with countries like Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal utilizing Public health reforms and food-focused programs to prioritize their nutrition rate.
• Seychelles and Algeria rank among the top global rates and even surpass some global economies, with a malnutrition rate of only 2.5%.
• Mauritius, Ghana, and Morocco are still balancing economic challenges while targeting nutrition. The Asian communities present also contribute to their small business, supply chains, and food diversity growth.

Deep Dive!!

African Countries are changing the narrative of malnutrition by fully prioritizing food security in the system, proving that it can be inevitable despite the large population growth or sometimes economic instability. By using smarter agriculture, good food systems, and people-centered policies, some African nations are curbing malnutrition at the fastest rate ever recorded.

Governments are leaning towards national nutrition programs, food education, urban farming, and cross-continent trade reforms to permanently control the rate of malnutrition. Here are the top 10 African countries with the lowest malnutrition rate.

10. Egypt

Egypt has a malnutrition rate of 8.5%. With a country that has over 110 million population, this is a score that reflects a good and steady control. Cairo has expanded access to balanced meals, especially in rural areas, with their policies around nutritional education and food subsidies. Fortified flour and Subsidized oil have also helped in keeping essential nutrition affordable, especially in urban centers. Through market distribution networks and culinary influence, Egypt's growing Asian population, mostly Indian and Chinese, contributes to food supply and diet variety.

9. South Africa

South Africa is a well-developed economy, and it records a malnutrition rate of 8.1%. In areas that lacked a regular food supply, they had access to mobile food markets and government-backed school nutrition programs. The Asian communities, particularly Indian and Chinese, also helped regulate urban areas like Johannesburg and Durban with their businesses, which helped in food affordability and accessibility. Although some rural areas still face challenges, efforts to decentralize food access are beginning to show results.

8. Morocco

With a score of 6.9%, nutrition is a vital part of Morocco's national development strategy. There has been a significant increase in household food availability due to the women-led community farming groups in the Atlas region. Government campaigns that also help in promoting traditional foods like lentils, olive oil, and couscous contribute to an affordable and healthy diet system. The small Chinese and Filipino communities in Casablanca diversify access to food imports and trade networks.

7. Ghana

Blending agriculture, education, and policy, Ghana has proved that it can reduce malnourishment with a record of 6.2%. The blend of traditional farming and urban nutrition planning is the most effective system in West Africa. Ghana’s school feeding initiatives have grown stronger by the year, and food security for rural households has also improved with the aid of the national Planting for Food and Jobs program. Chinese and Indian entrepreneurs with Asian owned stores and restaurants provide affordable options and broad dietary choices in Accra and Kumasi.

6. Mauritius

Mauritius records a score of 5.9% establishing its stand in food management. The country benefits from regular and steady policies in school nutrition, food imports, and price regulation. Despite high imports of food, Mauritius ensures consistent distribution and high standards. The low consumption of ultra-processed foods helps in regulating daily nutrition, and this is due to the large intake of plant-based meals like rice, spices, and pulses. The Mauritius population has more than 60% Asian heritage, mainly Indian descent, and this influences government food programs and family diet.

5. Cameroon

Cameroon has a 5.7% malnutrition rate, and this is largely attributed to the government initiatives on early childhood nutrition clinics, support for small-scale farmers producing plantains, vegetables, and yams, and Community gardens. The Churches and Food education campaigns in school also help in reshaping nutrition habits. Through better transport routes and urban market setups, the Chinese infrastructure projects have also indirectly helped in the regulation of food access.

4. Senegal

Senegal's strong leadership, regional partnerships, and public campaigns have consistently regulated malnutrition with only a record of 4.6%. In Dakar, school canteens and home gardens are vital to daily nutrition. The large consumption of traditional foods like thieboudienne and millet-based meals also regulates the high nutrition rate. Partnerships with countries like Vietnam and China have also helped in stabilizing the local markets with the introduction of new agricultural methods.

3. Tunisia

Tunisia records a malnutrition rate of 3.2% and this can be clearly attributed to its Mediterranean diet. The country's natural cuisine is rich in vegetables, legumes, and grains, which naturally support the nutritional needs of the population. To also strengthen the choice of healthy meals, Tunisia creates a public awareness campaign targeting pregnant women and young families. The small Asian businesses in Tunis also offer nutritional products that add to the traditional foods.

2. Algeria

Algeria records an impressive number of 2.5% of malnutrition. Algeria's national food programs focus on subsidizing some of the key components in their diet, like bread, milk, and oil. The Asian communities, especially, are also involved in the construction and food commerce in Algiers and Oran. They help widen the choice of foods in working-class neighborhoods by supplying affordable meals and groceries.

1. Seychelles

Seychelles uses its small nation to its advantage by regulating malnutrition with a record of only 2.5%. They regulate the school meal plans, food imports, and dietary education effectively. Seychelles food networks are well managed, especially in preserving the local diets like vegetables, fish, and rice. Seychelles, being a tourist hub, also contributes to its food diversity.