Global hunger saw a slight decrease in 2024 but the progress was not consistent worldwide. Approximately 8.2 percent of the world population experienced hunger. This figure, about 673 million people, is down from 8.5 percent in 2023. It also marks a drop from 8.7 percent in 2022. This welcome decline offers a glimmer of hope.
Hunger continued to rise in most subregions of Africa. It also increased in Western Asia. These findings come from The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2025) report. Five specialized United Nations agencies published this report today.
Mixed Global Picture: Declines and Stubborn Rises
SOFI 2025 indicates that between 638 and 720 million people faced hunger last year. The point estimate of 673 million shows a decrease. This figure represents 15 million fewer people than in 2023. It is also 22 million fewer than in 2022.
Despite this decline, estimates remain above pre-pandemic levels. High food inflation in recent years contributed to a slow recovery. This economic pressure hampers efforts to mitigate hunger.
Regional Successes and Persistent Challenges
Notable improvements occurred in Southern Asia. Latin America also saw significant progress. The prevalence of undernourishment in Asia fell to 6.7 percent in 2024. This represents 323 million people. Latin America and the Caribbean saw a drop to 5.1 percent. About 34 million people were affected in 2024. This is down from a peak of 6.1 percent in 2020.
Conversely, hunger steadily rose across Africa and Western Asia. Many countries here face prolonged food crises. Africa’s hungry population surpassed 20 percent in 2024. This affected 307 million people. In Western Asia, 12.7 percent of the population faced hunger. This totals over 39 million people in 2024.
The Path to Zero Hunger by 2030
Projections show 512 million people could be chronically undernourished by 2030. Almost 60 percent of these individuals will reside in Africa, creating vast challenges. Hunger remains a critical issue for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). The FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO issued this warning. Achieving this goal requires intensified, collaborative efforts.
Tracking Key Nutrition Targets
The global prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity slightly decreased. It fell from 28.4 to 28.0 percent from 2023 to 2024. Hunger still affects 2.3 billion people. This figure is 335 million more than in 2019. It is also 683 million more than in 2015.
Child nutrition indicators show mixed results. Stunting in children under five declined to 23.2 percent in 2024. Child overweight and wasting remain largely unchanged. Exclusive breastfeeding for infants under six months increased significantly. It rose to 47.8 percent in 2023. However, adult obesity rose to 15.8 percent in 2022. Anaemia among women also increased. About one-third of young children met minimum dietary diversity. Two-thirds of women did the same, highlighting disparities related to hunger.
The Impact of Food Inflation
SOFI 2025 also examines recent food price surges. It explores their impact on hunger and nutrition worldwide. The global policy response to COVID-19 contributed to inflationary pressures. The war in Ukraine and extreme weather events also played a role.
This food price inflation hindered post-pandemic recovery. Since 2020, food inflation consistently outpaced headline inflation. It peaked at 13.6 percent in January 2023. This was 5.1 percentage points above the headline rate.
Low-income countries suffered disproportionately. Median global food price inflation reached 13.6 percent. Yet, it climbed even higher there. It peaked at 30 percent in May 2023.
Despite rising global food prices, fewer people cannot afford a healthy diet. This number fell to 2.60 billion in 2024. However, improvements were uneven. In low-income countries, the cost related to hunger rose more sharply. The number of people unable to afford one increased there. It rose from 464 million in 2019 to 545 million in 2024. Similar increases occurred in lower-middle-income countries.
Recommendations for Future Action
The report recommends combining policy responses to hunger and inflation. These include targeted fiscal measures. Social protection programs can safeguard vulnerable households. Credible monetary policies can contain inflationary pressures. Strategic investments are also crucial. They include agrifood R&D, transport, and production infrastructure. Market information systems can improve productivity and resilience.
Voices from UN Leadership
FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, emphasized uneven progress. He stressed intensifying efforts for universal access to nutritious food.
IFAD President, Alvaro Lario, highlighted the need for investments. He urged investment in rural and agricultural transformation. These are vital for global stability.
UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell, focused on child nutrition. She stressed urgent action for vulnerable children. Affordable, nutritious food access is critical and reducing hunger must be a priority.
WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain, warned of alarming hunger levels. Funding cuts severely impact vital aid. These threaten hard-won gains.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, acknowledged progress. He highlighted gaps remaining in food security. Efforts must target those left behind, particularly in hunger-stricken regions.