Global Hunger Rates Decline, but Progress Uneven Across the Globe

Strategic Insights -

The global hunger rate decreased from 8.5% in 2023 to 8.2% in 2024, with an estimated 673 million people experiencing hunger, down from 698 million in 2023 and 695 million in 2022. However, the decline is not consistent across the globe, with hunger rising in most subregions of Africa and western Asia. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2025) report highlights that progress was made in southern Asia and Latin America, but the situation remains dire in many countries affected by prolonged food crises.

Key Takeaways:

  • The estimated 673 million people experiencing hunger in 2024 is a decrease of 15 million from 2023 and 22 million from 2022.
  • The prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) in Asia fell from 7.9% in 2022 to 6.7% in 2024, affecting 323 million people.
  • Latin America and the Caribbean saw a significant decline in PoU, falling to 5.15% in 2024, or 34 million people.
  • Hunger continued to rise in most subregions of Africa and western Asia, with 20% of the population facing hunger in Africa in 2024, affecting 307 million people.
  • The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) projects that 512 million people could be chronically undernourished by 2030, with 60% of those in Africa.
  • The global prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity decreased slightly from 28.4% in 2023 to 28% in 2024, accounting for 2.3 billion people.
  • The percentage of infants under six months exclusively breastfed increased from 37% in 2012 to 47.8% in 2023.

Statistics:

  • 673 million people experienced hunger in 2024, down from 698 million in 2023 and 695 million in 2022.
  • 323 million people in Asia were undernourished in 2024, down from 329 million in 2022.
  • 34 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean were undernourished in 2024, down from 37 million in 2020.
  • 307 million people in Africa faced hunger in 2024, up from 244 million in 2023.
  • 39 million people in western Asia may have faced hunger in 2024, up from 28 million in 2023.
  • 512 million people could be chronically undernourished by 2030, with 60% of those in Africa.
  • 2.3 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2024, down from 2.4 billion in 2023.
  • 47.8% of infants under six months were exclusively breastfed in 2023, up from 37% in 2012.

Sources:

  • The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2025) report published by five specialized agencies of the United Nations (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO).
  • FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu.
  • IFAD President, Alvaro Lario.
  • UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell.
  • WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain.
  • WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.