Falling global hunger levels countered by CD in western Asia and Africa, affirms UN study
The United Nations' SOFI 2025 report, published by five UN agencies, has revealed a concerning trend - between 638 and 720 million people faced hunger in 2024, with Africa and Western Asia experiencing a significant increase in hunger rates.
Projections suggest that 512 million people could be chronically undernourished by 2030, with almost 60% of these individuals residing in Africa. In Africa alone, the proportion of the population facing hunger surpassed 20% in 2024, affecting 307 million people.
The report also highlights a rise in the global prevalence of anaemia among women aged 15 to 49, increasing from 27.6% in 2012 to 30.7% in 2023. This increase underscores the need for improved access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, particularly for women and children.
The causes of this rising hunger are multifaceted and interlinked. Conflict zones, such as Gaza, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen, see extremely high levels of acute food insecurity. The 2021–2023 global food price surge has also slowed recovery and worsened food access, especially in vulnerable regions. Economic and structural challenges, including income inequality and lack of resources, disproportionately impact women and children, who face dietary diversity gaps.
Despite a slight decrease in the global prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity from 28.4% in 2023 to 28.0% in 2024, this decline is not consistent across the globe. Hunger continues to rise in most subregions of Africa and Western Asia.
Addressing this complex issue requires a multifaceted, well-coordinated response. Solutions focus on intensifying collaborative efforts, addressing specific vulnerabilities, improving access to sufficient and nutritious food, and accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Key solutions include intensifying collaborative, innovative actions among governments, international organizations, and communities to tackle hunger in vulnerable regions. Targeted aid and conflict resolution are vital to alleviate extreme hunger in conflict zones. Enhancing dietary diversity and nutrition, especially for women and children, can be achieved by improving access to healthy foods and nutrition programs.
To address food price volatility, policies that stabilize markets and support local food systems are essential. Accelerating progress toward SDGs, including zero hunger by 2030, requires sustained investment and international cooperation.
The SOFI 2025 report serves as a critical reminder for the need to collaborate and innovate to address the specific challenges faced by vulnerable populations. It underscores the importance of increasing investments in rural and agricultural transformation, strengthening social protection programs, and teaching parents about locally produced nutritious food.
In southern Asia, the prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) fell from 7.9% in 2022 to 6.7% in 2024, affecting 323 million people. This decline offers a glimmer of hope in the fight against hunger, underscoring the need for continued global efforts to ensure a world free from hunger and malnutrition.
[1] SOFI 2025 report: https://www.fao.org/sofi/en/ [2] WFP Executive Director's statement: https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-executive-director-cindy-mccain-warns-funding-cuts-could-lead-tens-millions-losing-vital [3] FAO Director-General's statement: https://www.fao.org/news/detail-en/c/1486441/ [4] UNICEF Executive Director's statement: https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-calls-urgent-action-worlds-youngest-and [5] WHO Director-General's statement: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-06-2022-who-director-general-s-statement-on-the-state-of-the-world-s-nutrition
- The report underlines the necessity of intensifying efforts in health-and-wellness, particularly in nutrition, to reduce the rising number of anaemia cases among women aged 15 to 49, as shown in the SOFI 2025 report.
- In line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing the growing hunger issue requires a focus on science and innovation, especially in improving access to sufficient and nutritious food, as Africa continues to experience a significant increase in hunger rates.
