was undernourished. In the least developed countries, 74 million people, or31 per cent of their total popura tion, were undernourished. Avalrable data suggestthat people tend to select protein intakes that contrlbute I-0 to 12 per cent oftotal dietary energy, so that in general, if calorie intake falls belo!, therequlrement level, a person will also be Busceptible to protein ateficlency.Therefore lt is likely that the figures of table 42 corregpond fairly closely tothe numbers of those rrho are also protein malnourlshed, although there arecerlainry instances of protein deficiency among people t{ith average carorie lntakeabove the critical lirnit of 1.2 B!4R. 258. FAo has estimated that by the year 2000 the nuober of undernourisheal peoprewill rise to 588 oirlion, lncJ,uding 4zz mitlion in the row-income countries and111 mlllion in the n{ddle-income countrles, if the trenats of tbe l9?os continue(see table 42). Under a scenario with high agricultural grorth, in contrast, thetotal number undernourished bbuld fall- to 260 million by the year 2000.A/40 /5r9 EngIi sh Page 120 Table 42. Estimated perceneage and number of Persons with calorie intake below critical minimum limit of 1.2 B!4R (basal metaboLlc rate) during L97 4-L976, and Projections to 1990 and 2000 Country groupPercentage of popula tion below 1.2 BMR TrendItigh qroethNumber of people below 1.2 B!4R ( mi l lions ) High Trend growth rotal, 86 developing countries with market economles L97 4-L976 1990 2000 !4iddle-income countries L97 4-L97 6 1990 2000 Loe-income countr ies L97 4-L97 6 1990 2000 Least developed countries 1974-I976 1990 200023 L2 87 96 lll13 9I18 29 23 22 3l 29 I8l3 o I 29 9 31 19lt436 508 588 349 4L2 477 74 104 133436 260 87 67 46 349 279 214 74 72 f,5 Egggt FAo, table 7.Agriculture: Toward 2000 (Rome, 1981) , staListical annex, D. Drinklng water supply and sanltation 259. A lack of safe drinklng rrater and adeguate sanitation is a major cause of the
**Analysis**
The text discusses the issue of undernourishment and its projections for the year 2000. It highlights the percentage of people with calorie intake below the critical minimum limit and the estimated numbers of undernourished people in different country groups. The text also mentions the importance of agricultural growth and its impact on reducing the number of undernourished people.

**Category**
Health, Economic development