Global Hunger Declines, But Africa and Western Asia Face Deepening Crisis: UN Report Warns of Uneven Progress. 

ADDIS ABABA:

Global hunger has slightly declined for the second consecutive year, but the United Nations warns that the world is still far from achieving zero hunger, with Africa and Western Asia facing a worsening crisis. This sobering assessment comes from the newly released State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 (SOFI 2025) report, unveiled on Tuesday during the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa.

According to the report, 8.2% of the global population—about 673 million people—experienced hunger in 2024, down from 8.5% in 2023 and 8.7% in 2022. While this modest progress is encouraging, it remains insufficient and deeply uneven, highlighting stark regional disparities.

Africa and Western Asia: Hunger Rising Despite Global Gains

The report underscores an alarming rise in hunger in most parts of Africa and Western Asia. Africa’s hunger rate climbed above 20% in 2024, affecting over 307 million people. In Western Asia, an estimated 12.7% of the population—more than 39 million individuals—suffered from hunger last year.

“These regions are being battered by conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability,” said QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). “Despite global progress, the reality is that too many are still being left behind.”

The situation is compounded by long-term food crises, high inflation, and disrupted supply chains, leaving communities with reduced access to affordable and nutritious food.

Improvement in Asia and Latin America

Encouraging signs emerged from Southern Asia and Latin America, where the prevalence of undernourishment dropped significantly. Asia saw hunger rates fall from 7.9% in 2022 to 6.7% in 2024—impacting 323 million people. In Latin America and the Caribbean, undernourishment declined to 5.1% in 2024, down from a pandemic-era peak of 6.1%.

Food Price Inflation Slows Recovery

SOFI 2025 attributes the slow recovery in global food security to persistent food price inflation driven by the COVID-19 pandemic response, the war in Ukraine, and extreme weather. At its peak in January 2023, global food inflation soared to 13.6%, significantly higher than general inflation.

Low-income countries have suffered the most. Food inflation reached as high as 30% in some regions in 2023, severely impacting poor households and pushing more families into food insecurity.

Despite this, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet globally declined from 2.76 billion in 2019 to 2.60 billion in 2024. However, this figure rose in low-income countries—from 464 million in 2019 to 545 million in 2024—revealing growing inequality in food access.

Nutrition: Mixed Progress and Persistent Challenges

The report presents a mixed picture on global nutrition:

• Stunting in children under five decreased from 26.4% in 2012 to 23.2% in 2024, showing steady progress.
• Wasting declined from 7.4% in 2012 to 6.6% in 2024, while child overweight slightly increased from 5.3% to 5.5%.
• Exclusive breastfeeding of infants under six months rose significantly, from 37% in 2012 to 47.8% in 2023.
• Adult obesity increased from 12.1% in 2012 to 15.8% in 2022.
• Anaemia in women aged 15–49 rose to 30.7% in 2023, up from 27.6% in 2012.
• Only one-third of children (ages 6–23 months) and two-thirds of women (15–49) met minimum dietary diversity in 2024.

“These figures show progress in some areas, but serious challenges remain,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “It’s vital that we invest in nutrition and access to healthy diets, especially for women and children.”

Policy Recommendations: From Protection to Transformation

SOFI 2025 calls for a robust policy mix to address food price volatility and hunger, including:

• Time-bound fiscal measures such as social protection for vulnerable groups;
• Transparent and credible monetary policies to curb inflation;
• Strategic investments in food production, transport infrastructure, and agricultural innovation.

IFAD President Alvaro Lario emphasized, “In times of global disruption, rural and agricultural transformation is more crucial than ever—for nutrition security and global stability.”

The Road to 2030: SDG 2 Under Threat

Looking ahead, the report warns that unless urgent action is taken, 512 million people could be chronically undernourished by 2030—nearly 60% of them in Africa. This poses a significant threat to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.

“Funding is falling, yet needs are growing,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. “Last year, we assisted 124 million people. This year, budget cuts may leave tens of millions without food—jeopardizing the small gains we’ve made.”

Conclusion: A Call to Action

While the global hunger rate is trending downward, SOFI 2025 offers a sobering reminder: the recovery is fragile, gains are uneven, and many countries are falling further behind. Governments, international agencies, and communities must urgently collaborate to invest in sustainable food systems, address economic inequalities, and protect the most vulnerable.

“Every child deserves a fair chance to thrive,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Rising food prices threaten to undo years of progress. We must act now to ensure affordable, nutritious food for every family—especially the youngest.”