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Food supply

Global Hunger Trends Show Improvement, But Challenges Remain

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp spike in global hunger, but new data suggests that the number of people facing hunger is trending down again. The UN's annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, co-produced by five UN agencies, reveals that as many as 720 million people faced hunger in 2024, with 307 million of those affected in Africa, equivalent to over 20% of the continent.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of people facing hunger worldwide is trending down for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 720 million people experiencing hunger in 2024.
  • 307 million people in Africa faced hunger, more than 20% of the continent, with 20% of those affected being children.
  • Global food inflation soared from 2% in December 2020 to nearly 17% in early 2023, with the impacts mostly affecting low-income and African countries.
  • Notable improvements were seen in Latin America and the Caribbean, with undernourishment falling to around 5% in 2024, affecting 34 million people.
  • The report highlights the success of robust social protection programs across South America, which have reduced hunger and food insecurity, particularly during food price spikes.
  • 512 million people in the world may still be chronically undernourished by 2030, with nearly 60% concentrated in Africa.
  • Prioritizing nutrition is crucial, as ultra-processed foods are increasingly displacing more nutritious alternatives, despite growing evidence of their adverse health impacts.
  • The report reveals persistent inequalities between genders, with food insecurity more prevalent among adult women than men in every region of the world.
  • Supporting women in agriculture could add $1 trillion to the global economy and reduce food insecurity by 45 million people, according to the FAO.

Sources:

  • UN's annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report
  • World Food Programme
  • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • Action Against Hunger UK
  • The Telegraph
  • Gates Foundation

Statistics:

  • 720 million people faced hunger in 2024, with 307 million of those affected in Africa (42% of the global population affected by hunger).
  • 20% of the African continent's population, approximately 307 million people, experienced hunger in 2024.
  • The global food inflation rate soared from 2% in December 2020 to nearly 17% in early 2023.
  • Undernourishment in Latin America and the Caribbean decreased to around 5% in 2024, affecting 34 million people.
  • 512 million people in the world may still be chronically undernourished by 2030, with nearly 60% concentrated in Africa.
  • 45 million people could be reduced from food insecurity by supporting women in agriculture, according to the FAO.
  • Global aid for nutrition will fall by 44% in 2025 compared to 2022, according to research.
  • Up to 60% of children affected by severe wasting may die if left untreated.

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