A new UN report finds that global hunger and food insecurity have decreased, though progress remains uneven and insufficient to meet 2030 development goals.
Key facts
- •Approximately 645 million people were affected by hunger in 2025, a reduction of 14 million from 2024.
- •Africa has 309 million hungry people, surpassing the 292 million reported in Asia.
- •Adult obesity prevalence increased from 12.1 percent in 2012 to 16.2 percent in 2024.
- •Post-farmgate activities, such as processing and logistics, account for 70 to 75 percent of food costs.
- •Only 30.8 percent of children aged 6 to 23 months consume a minimally diverse diet.
Global hunger declined for the third year in a row in 2025, according to a report released by five UN agencies. An estimated 7.8 percent of the global population faced hunger in 2025, down from 8.1 percent in 2024. Despite this improvement, the report warns that progress is fragile and unevenly distributed, leaving the world off-track to meet Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
By the numbers
Regional Disparities and Food Insecurity
While Asia and Latin America have seen steady improvements, Africa now holds the highest number of hungry people at approximately 309 million. Globally, 25.8 percent of the population experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2025, a decrease from 27.1 percent in 2024. However, more than half of Africa's population faced such insecurity, highlighting stark regional gaps.
Nutrition and Diet Affordability
The average global cost of a healthy diet rose to 4.28 purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars per day in 2025. While the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet fell to 2.69 billion, affordability remains a major constraint, particularly in Africa where 66.6 percent of the population cannot afford such a diet. Meanwhile, maternal and child nutrition targets are lagging, with adult obesity rates continuing to rise.
Future Risks and Projections
The report warns that conflict, particularly in the Middle East, alongside weather extremes like El Niño, threatens to undermine recent gains. Projections suggest that 510 to 520 million people could still face hunger by 2030. UN agencies emphasize that closing these gaps requires sustained investment in infrastructure, supply chain efficiency, and policy reforms to make nutritious food more accessible.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by WHO News.
