Key facts
- Global hunger declined to 7.8% of the world's population in 2025, down from 8.1% in 2024.
- Around 645 million people experienced hunger globally in 2025.
- Asia, particularly India, and Latin America showed significant improvements.
- Africa had the largest undernourished population with 309 million people affected.
- Risks from climate shocks, trade disruptions, and geopolitical tensions threaten future progress.
- Nearly 2.7 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet, with Africa facing the greatest challenge.
Global hunger has declined for the third consecutive year, reaching 7.8% of the world's population in 2025, according to a United Nations report. This progress, with 645 million people affected, was observed across all continents, including a slight improvement in Africa, which still has the largest undernourished population at 309 million.
Asia, particularly India, and Latin America and the Caribbean were key drivers of the reduction. Several African nations like Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Senegal, and Zambia also showed positive trends. However, the report warns that mounting risks from climate shocks and trade disruptions could threaten this progress.
Immediate concerns include disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which is increasing costs for fuel, fertilizers, and transportation, thereby raising global food production costs. A potential strong El Nino weather pattern could further exacerbate issues by disrupting agricultural output in vulnerable regions.
Despite the decline in hunger, child malnutrition and anemia among women remain high, while adult obesity is on the rise. A significant challenge is the affordability of nutritious food, with an estimated 2.69 billion people unable to afford a healthy diet, calculated at an average of $4.28 per day in purchasing-power-parity terms. Africa faces the most acute affordability gap, with 66.1% of its population unable to afford healthy food, compounded by weak infrastructure and trade barriers.