Global hunger fell for the third consecutive year in 2025, with the prevalence of undernourishment dropping to 7.8% of the global population, down from 8.1% in 2024. According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 report, an estimated 645 million people faced hunger in 2025, a reduction of 43 million since 2022. Despite this downward trend, progress remains fragile and uneven, as the world struggles to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger amid regional conflicts.
Regional Disparities in Global Hunger
Recovery from food insecurity is not uniform across the globe. While Asia and Latin America have seen steady improvements in food access, Africa continues to face significant challenges. According to the report, Africa is home to 309 million hungry people, surpassing the 292 million currently in Asia. Although the share of the population facing hunger in Africa decreased slightly from 20.3% in 2024 to 20.0% in 2025, the continent’s rapid population growth keeps the absolute number of affected individuals high.
Moderate or severe food insecurity—where individuals must compromise on food quality or quantity—affected 2.1 billion people globally in 2025. Regional data shows that 56.6% of Africa’s population experienced such insecurity, compared to 20.3% in Asia and 8.7% in Northern America and Europe.
Impact of Conflict and Economic Instability
The 2026 report highlights how the conflict in the Middle East and global energy and fertilizer costs threaten to stall future progress. Projections suggest that between 510 and 520 million people could still face hunger by 2030, a figure higher than the pre-conflict estimate of 503 million.
Stagnation in Global Nutrition Targets
While hunger rates have declined, global nutrition outcomes remain largely off-track. The prevalence of adult obesity has climbed steadily, reaching 16.2% in 2024, far from the international target of halting the rise by 2025. Additionally, 150 million children under age five are stunted, and anemia among women aged 15 to 49 is worsening in nearly all regions.
The cost of a healthy diet, defined by the FAO and WHO as a balanced and diverse intake of nutrients, rose to an average of 4.28 purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars per person per day in 2025. This cost is a major barrier for the 2.69 billion people—roughly 32.7% of the global population—who cannot afford to eat nutritiously.
Strategies for Improving Food Systems
Experts argue that lowering the cost of healthy food requires structural changes to agrifood value chains. According to the report, 70% to 75% of the cost of food is generated after the farm-gate, specifically in processing, logistics, and wholesale.
The report advocates for context-specific policies, such as:
- Investments in cold chain infrastructure to reduce food loss.
- Regulatory frameworks that promote healthy food choices.
- Increased support for rural economies and market systems.
These interventions are designed to build resilience against future shocks, ensuring that families can access affordable, nutritious food even during times of crisis.
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