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Food supply

Global Hunger Fell Overall in 2024, but Rose in Africa and Western Asia

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Despite progress in reducing global hunger, the number of people suffering from hunger rose in most of Africa and western Asia in 2024. According to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 673 million people, or 8.2 percent of the world's population, experienced hunger last year. This represents a decrease from 8.7 percent in 2022 and 8.5 percent in 2023. However, hunger remains a persistent problem in regions such as Africa and western Asia, where the proportion of the population facing hunger surpassed 20 percent in 2024.

Key Takeaways:

  • The global hunger rate decreased to 8.2 percent in 2024, affecting approximately 673 million people, a decrease from 8.7 percent in 2022 and 8.5 percent in 2023.
  • Hunger rose in most of Africa and western Asia, with the proportion of the population facing hunger surpassing 20 percent in Africa and 12.7 percent in western Asia in 2024.
  • From 638 to 720 million people faced hunger in 2024, representing a decrease of approximately 15 million from 2023 and 22 million from 2022.
  • The number of people experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity decreased to 28 percent in 2024, or 2.3 billion people, down from 28.4 percent in 2023.
  • In low-income countries, 544.7 million people, or 72 percent of the population, couldn't afford a healthy diet in 2024.
  • It is estimated that 512 million people could experience chronic undernourishment by 2030, with nearly 60 percent of them in Africa.

Statistics:

  • 673 million people, or 8.2 percent of the world's population, suffered from hunger in 2024.
  • The global hunger rate decreased by approximately 0.5 percentage points from 2023 to 2024.
  • 2.3 billion people, or 28 percent of the world's population, experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2024.
  • 544.7 million people, or 72 percent of the population, couldn't afford a healthy diet in low-income countries in 2024.
  • 510.8 million people, or 27% of the population, experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in Africa in 2024.
  • 39 million people, or 12.7% of the population, in western Asia, may have faced hunger in 2024.

Sources:

  • FAO. (2025). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025.
  • WHO. (2025). Statement on the release of the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report.
  • IFAD. (2025). Statement on the release of the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report.
  • UNICEF. (2025). Statement on the release of the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report.
  • FAO. (2025). Press Release: Global Hunger Decreases but Remains Persistent in Africa and Western Asia.

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