Malnutrition is generally not perceived to be a pervasive problem in much of Africa, except during famines. There is little doubt that in "average" years, malnutrition in Africa is a smaller problem than it is in Asian countries such as Bangladesh, India, Nepal, or Sri Lanka.

The humid and subhumid tropics in African regions where rainfall exceeds potential evapotranspiration for five months or more include most of the area from Guinea through central Africa plus the southern part of East Africa.