Key facts
- Global hunger declined for the third consecutive year in 2024, affecting 673 million people (8.2% of the world's population).
- South America and Southern Asia saw notable improvements in hunger rates.
- Africa's hunger crisis worsened, with over 307 million people chronically undernourished.
- The number of people unable to afford a healthy diet decreased to 2.6 billion globally in 2024.
- Risks from conflict, climate extremes, and economic vulnerabilities threaten future progress.
Global hunger has declined for the third consecutive year, with 673 million people experiencing it in 2024, according to a new United Nations report. This represents 8.2% of the world's population, a decrease from 8.5% in 2023.
Significant improvements were observed in South America and Southern Asia, attributed to factors like increased agricultural productivity, social programs, and better access to healthy diets. However, the report, titled "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World," cautions that progress is uneven and threatened by growing conflicts, rising debt levels, and economic vulnerabilities.
Africa faces a deepening hunger crisis, with over 307 million people chronically undernourished in 2024, a rate worse than 20 years ago. Projections indicate that Africa will account for nearly 60% of the world's hungry population by 2030.
While the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet globally dropped to 2.6 billion in 2024, the report also highlighted a dual burden of malnutrition, with adult obesity rates steadily increasing.
U.N. officials warned that continued conflict could reverse the gains made in reducing hunger, emphasizing the need for long-term policy, investment in food systems, and conflict resolution to ensure lasting progress.