A new report from the United Nations reveals that 673 million people faced hunger in 2024, and 2.3 billion people—28% of the world’s population—were moderately or severely food insecure, despite signs of global progress. The report, The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025, underscores the urgent need for bold action and greater investment to end hunger by 2030.
Action Against Hunger, a leading global humanitarian organization, responded to the findings by calling on world leaders to prioritize food security and nutrition as part of a just and sustainable future.
“Progress is possible—but it’s not guaranteed,” said Dr. Charles Owubah, CEO of Action Against Hunger. “The numbers are staggering. In an age of unprecedented wealth and technological advancement, more than 1 in 4 people still struggle to access enough food.”
Key Findings from the 2025 Report:
- 673 million people were undernourished in 2024, a slight improvement from 2023 (695 million), but still far above pre-pandemic levels.
- 2.3 billion people were moderately or severely food insecure, including 545 million in low-income countries—a 17% increase since 2019.
- More than 1 billion people in Africa cannot afford a healthy diet, a sharp rise from 864 million in 2019.
- Food prices have surged, driving the average cost of a healthy diet to $4.46 per person per day (PPP)—up from $4.01 in 2022.
- The number of people unable to afford a healthy diet globally stands at 2.6 billion, or nearly 1 in 3 people worldwide.
Hunger Disparities Worsen for Women, Rural Communities, and Children
The report highlights persistent inequalities, with women and rural communities disproportionately affected. In 2024, food insecurity was higher among women in all regions, and rural areas faced significantly higher rates than urban areas.
Child malnutrition remains widespread, with 23.2% of children under five affected by stunting and 6.6% by wasting. Alarmingly, child wasting has been linked to spikes in food prices, with a 10% increase in food costs leading to a 4–6% rise in severe wasting among children.
The Price of Inaction
With less than five years until the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals, the report makes clear that the world is not on track to meet global hunger or nutrition targets. Without major investment and policy change, 512 million people are projected to remain hungry in 2030, with 60% of them living in Africa.
“Hunger is rising sharply in Africa and remains dangerously high in fragile and conflict-affected regions,” said Owubah. “We must act now, not only to save lives but to transform systems so that everyone can access affordable, nutritious food—no matter where they live.”
