Summary
- Global hunger decreased from 8.5% in 2023 to 8.2% in 2024.
- Africa and Western Asia saw a worsening of food insecurity despite global improvements.
- Economic instability, conflict, and climate shocks drive Africa’s food insecurity rise.
- Over 190 million children under five suffer from undernutrition globally.
- UN recommends targeted social protection and inflation control policies.
- Investments in agriculture, infrastructure, and markets are crucial for resilience.
- Geopolitical conflicts and disrupted supply chains exacerbate food insecurity.
- UN officials call for urgent, collaborative actions to protect vulnerable populations.
Despite some positive global trends, the sharp contrast seen in Africa and Western Asia underscores the complexity of addressing food insecurity, where multiple overlapping crises hinder progress. These regions face rising food prices, economic challenges, and ongoing conflicts that threaten the well-being of millions, especially young children. The latest UN report stresses the necessity of coordinated policy interventions, increased agricultural investments, and strengthened social safety nets to build resilience and ensure equitable access to nutritious food for those most in need.
What Does the UN Report Say About Global Hunger Trends?
An estimated 8.2% of the global population, about 673 million people, experienced hunger in 2024, a decrease from 8.5% in 2023, according to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report released by five United Nations specialized agencies. While this signals a global improvement, the progress has been uneven, with hunger intensifying in Africa and Western Asia regions.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu stated,
“While it is encouraging to see a decrease in the global hunger rate, we must recognize that progress is uneven. SOFI 2025 serves as a critical reminder that we need to intensify efforts to ensure that everyone has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.”
He called for collaborative and innovative work among governments, organizations, and communities to tackle persistent hunger challenges, especially in the most vulnerable regions.
Why Is Food Insecurity Rising in Africa Despite Global Progress?
The report highlights that food insecurity in Africa has worsened due to a combination of systemic challenges including economic instability, climate shocks, conflict, and persistent poverty. Rising food prices and disruptions in global supply chains have exacerbated the problem, limiting access to affordable nutritious food in many African countries.
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President Álvaro Lario stressed,
“In times of rising food prices and disrupted global value chains, we must step up our investments in rural and agricultural transformation. These investments are not only essential for ensuring food and nutrition security – they are also critical for global stability.”
This underscores the importance of targeted interventions in agricultural sectors to build resilience and improve food accessibility.
How Are Children Affected by Malnutrition in These Regions?
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell highlighted the plight of children in food-insecure regions, saying,
“Every child deserves the chance to grow and thrive. Yet over 190 million children under the age of 5 are affected by undernutrition, which can have negative consequences for their physical and mental development.”
She further noted this limits their potential and demands urgent action.
Russell emphasized the need for strengthening social protection programs and educating parents on locally produced nutritious food, including the importance of breastfeeding. These measures are seen as critical to protect the most vulnerable populations from the impacts of rising food prices and nutrition insecurity.
What Policy Actions Does the UN Report Recommend?
The SOFI report recommends a multifaceted approach to address food price inflation and insecurity:
- Implementing targeted and time-bound fiscal measures, particularly social protection programs aimed at vulnerable households.
- Enacting credible and transparent monetary policies to contain inflationary pressures.
- Making strategic investments in agricultural research and development, transport and production infrastructure, and market information systems to boost productivity and resilience.
These recommendations seek not only to alleviate immediate hunger but also to fortify agricultural sectors against future shocks.
How Does This UN Report Fit Into the Global Context?
The report’s findings arrive amid multiple global crises, including ongoing conflicts such as in the Middle East, economic uncertainty, and climate-related disasters. UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently warned that geopolitical conflicts contribute to instability that worsens food security. He called for urgent political action to resolve such conflicts and protect peace efforts.
Food insecurity in Africa and Western Asia is compounded by these broader issues, making the UN’s call for coordinated, cross-sectoral action especially urgent.
This latest United Nations report reveals that while hunger is declining globally, food insecurity is alarmingly increasing in Africa and Western Asia due to a mixture of economic, climatic, and conflict-related challenges. High-level UN officials stress the dire need for investment, social protection, and strategic policy responses to ensure nutritious food access for the most vulnerable, particularly children, in these regions. Without intensified global cooperation and commitment, these gains in hunger reduction risk being reversed where the need is greatest.