Global Hunger Rate Declines, but Progress Uneven Across the Globe

The global hunger rate decreased to 8.2% in 2024, affecting an estimated 673 million people, down from 8.5% in 2023 and 8.7% in 2022. However, hunger continued to rise in most subregions of Africa and western Asia, with the proportion of the population facing hunger in Africa surpassing 20% in 2024, affecting 307 million people. The global prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity decreased slightly from 28.4% in 2023 to 28.0% in 2024, accounting for 2.3 billion people, but remains above pre-pandemic levels.

Key Takeaways:

The global hunger rate declined to 8.2% in 2024, with an estimated 673 million people affected, down from 8.5% in 2023 and 8.7% in 2022.
However, hunger continued to rise in most subregions of Africa and western Asia, with the proportion of the population facing hunger in Africa surpassing 20% in 2024, affecting 307 million people.
The global prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity decreased slightly from 28.4% in 2023 to 28.0% in 2024, accounting for 2.3 billion people, but remains above pre-pandemic levels.
The prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) in Asia fell from 7.9% in 2022 to 6.7% in 2024, or 323 million people, in 2024.
Latin America and the Caribbean saw the PoU fall to 5.1% in 2024, or 34 million people, down from a peak of 6.1 percent in 2020.
The proportion of the population facing hunger in Africa surpassed 20% in 2024, affecting 307 million people, while in western Asia an estimated 12.7 percent of the population, or more than 39 million people, may have faced hunger in 2024.
It is projected that 512 million people could be chronically undernourished by 2030, with almost 60 percent of those being in Africa.
The global prevalence of anaemia among women aged 15 to 49 increased from 27.6% in 2012 to 30.7% in 2023.
The percentage of infants under six months exclusively breastfed increased from 37.0% in 2012 to 47.8% in 2023, reflecting growing recognition of its health benefits.
The report recommends a combination of policy responses to food price inflation, including targeted and time-bound fiscal measures, credible and transparent monetary policies, and strategic investments in agrifood R&D, transport and production infrastructure, and market information systems.

Statistics:

Global hunger rate: 8.2% in 2024 (down from 8.5% in 2023 and 8.7% in 2022).
Estimated number of people affected by hunger: 673 million (down from 681 million in 2023 and 695 million in 2022).
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity: 28.0% in 2024 (down from 28.4% in 2023 but above pre-pandemic levels).
Number of people unable to afford a healthy diet: 2.60 billion in 2024 (down from 2.76 billion in 2019).
Proportion of the population facing hunger in Africa: 20% in 2024 (affecting 307 million people).
Prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) in Asia: 6.7% in 2024 (down from 7.9% in 2022).
Prevalence of anaemia among women aged 15 to 49: 30.7% in 2023 (up from 27.6% in 2012).
Percentage of infants under six months exclusively breastfed: 47.8% in 2023 (up from 37.0% in 2012).

Sources:

World Health Organization, SOFI 2025 report (July 28)
World Health Organization, Press Release (July 28)
World Health Organization, Footnote: \[Category: Events\]