Global Food Insecurity: 2.3 Billion People Unable to Afford Healthy Food

Strategic Insights -

As the global population grows, so does the number of people struggling to access basic nutrition. According to a report by six UN agencies, more than 2.3 billion people experience moderate to severe food insecurity, with 673.2 million undernourished worldwide. This trend is particularly concerning as food prices rise, outpacing inflation rates in other sectors. Despite a slow decline in food insecurity since 2022, the pandemic's lasting economic impacts and increased food prices have reversed progress, leaving millions without access to nutritious food.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 2.3 billion people globally face moderate to severe food insecurity, with 673.2 million undernourished, according to the 2025 "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World" report.
  • Undernourishment was declining worldwide from 2000 to 2019, but rose sharply with the pandemic and declined slowly since, remaining above pre-pandemic levels.
  • Regional inequalities persist, with Africa showing a significant increase in undernourishment, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where one in five people are undernourished.
  • Women are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, driven by gender norms and pressures that limit their access to resources.
  • 31.9% of the world's population cannot afford a healthy diet, with some African countries facing over 90% inability to pay for nutritious food.

Statistics:

  • 2.3 billion people experience moderate to severe food insecurity worldwide.
  • 673.2 million people are undernourished globally.
  • Undernourishment has increased in Africa, with one in five people affected.
  • Women are more affected by food insecurity than men, with a global gap of 2.1 percentage points.
  • 31.9% of the world's population cannot afford nutritious food.
  • 91.3% of people in South Sudan, 90.5% in Madagascar, and 73.1% in Burundi cannot afford a healthy diet.

Sources:

  • The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, 2025, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and six UN agencies.
  • The FAO defines undernourishment as lacking access to enough food to meet the daily calorie minimum to maintain an active and healthy life.
  • The report highlights the lasting economic impacts of the pandemic, increased food prices, and regional inequalities as drivers of food insecurity.