Progress is possible. Global hunger has declined from its peak, but 673 million people still go to bed hungry each night. Together, we can build a world where everyone has enough to eat.
The latest data shows hunger is falling from its peak. But the pace is not fast enough to reach Zero Hunger by 2030. Here is where we stand.
According to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 — published by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO — an estimated 673 million people faced chronic hunger in 2024. That is 8.2% of the global population — down from 8.7% in 2022.
This means 22 million fewer people are hungry than two years ago. Progress is real, especially in Asia and South America. But the world still has 96 million more hungry people than in 2015, when the 2030 Agenda was adopted.
Beyond hunger, 2.3 billion people — 28% of the world — were moderately or severely food insecure in 2024, meaning they did not always know where their next meal would come from. Of these, 828 million were severely food insecure, sometimes going entire days without eating.
If current trends continue, 512 million people will still face hunger in 2030. That is 512 million too many — but far fewer than today, which proves our efforts are working. With renewed commitment, we can accelerate this progress.
The numbers behind the world's progress toward ending hunger, drawn from the latest UN and partner agency data.
Some regions are making real progress. Others need more support. Understanding the differences helps us focus our efforts where they matter most.
Africa is the only region where hunger is still rising. More than one in five people face chronic undernourishment. Middle Africa has the highest rate in the world at 30.2%. Since 2015, the number of hungry people in Africa has increased by 113 million — a crisis that demands urgent global attention.
Asia is making meaningful progress. Hunger fell from 7.9% in 2022 to 6.7% in 2024, driven by improvements in Southern Asia. However, Western Asia saw hunger rise to 12.7%, and 1.1 billion people across the continent still face moderate or severe food insecurity — the largest absolute number of any region.
South America has led the region's recovery, with hunger falling from 5.5% in 2020 to 3.8% in 2024. The Caribbean remains a serious concern at 17.5% — more than three times the regional average. Central America held steady after several years of improvement, showing the fragility of progress.
Conflict, economic pressures, and climate extremes are the three forces pushing millions into hunger. Understanding them is the first step to solving them.
The leading driver of acute hunger. In 2024, conflict affected roughly 140 million people across 20 countries. Famine was confirmed in Sudan, while catastrophic hunger gripped Gaza, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.
140 million affectedGlobal food price inflation peaked at 13.6% in early 2023. In low-income countries, it reached 30%. For the 2.6 billion people already struggling to afford a healthy diet, every price increase pushes nutritious food further out of reach.
59.4 million affectedEl Niño-driven droughts and floods pushed 18 countries into food crises, with 96 million people affected. Southern Africa, Southern Asia, and the Horn of Africa were hit hardest, as crops failed and livelihoods were destroyed.
96 million affectedSince 2020, food prices have risen faster than overall inflation in most countries. Low-income nations were hit worst, with food inflation peaking at 30% in May 2023. The gap has only recently begun to narrow.
30% peak in low-income countriesEvery child deserves a healthy start. Yet malnutrition among children has risen for six consecutive years. The cost of inaction is measured in young lives.
Acute malnutrition has risen for the sixth consecutive year. Nearly 10 million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition — the deadliest form. Nearly half of all food-crisis countries also face nutrition crises, as inadequate diets, disease, and broken health services compound one another.
We have the data, the tools, and the knowledge. What we need now is the collective will to act. Investment in agriculture, social protection, conflict resolution, and climate adaptation can turn the tide.