Global Hunger Declines in 2024, but Rises in Africa and Western Asia

Global hunger decreased overall in 2024, but increased in Africa and Western Asia, according to a United Nations report released Monday. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, published by five UN agencies, found that 8.2 percent of the world’s population—about 673 million people—suffered from hunger last year, down from 8.7 percent in 2022 and 8.5 percent in 2023.

The report estimates that between 638 and 720 million people faced hunger in 2024, a decrease of approximately 15 million from 2023 and 22 million from 2022. Improvements were seen in Asia, where undernourishment fell to 6.7 percent, and in the Caribbean and Latin America, where it decreased to 5.1 percent. However, hunger rose in Africa and Western Asia, with over 20 percent of Africa’s population affected, totaling 307 million people, and 12.7 percent in Western Asia, or more than 39 million people.

The number of people experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity decreased to 28 percent, or 2.3 billion people, in 2024, down from 28.4 percent in 2023. Despite this progress, low-income countries faced significant challenges, with 72 percent of their populations unable to afford a healthy diet in 2024. This amounted to 544.7 million people, an increase from 464 million five years earlier.

The report highlights the impact of rising food prices, which peaked at 30 percent in low-income countries in May 2023, driven by pandemic policies, the war in Ukraine, and extreme weather. While global food price inflation has eased, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet remains high, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries outside of India.

The SOFI report estimates that 512 million people could experience chronic undernourishment by 2030, with nearly 60 percent of them in Africa. This underscores the challenge of achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger.

To address these issues, the report recommends policy responses such as transparent monetary policies, targeted fiscal measures, and investments in agricultural research, market systems, and infrastructure. The UN agencies emphasize the need for collaboration to ensure food and nutrition security, particularly for vulnerable populations.

The report also notes progress in reducing stunting and supporting breastfeeding but stresses the ongoing burden of food insecurity and malnutrition worldwide.