- ➔ Updated global estimates point to signs of a decrease in world hunger in recent years. An estimated 8.2 percent of the global population may have faced hunger in 2024, down from 8.5 percent in 2023 and 8.7 percent in 2022. The progress is driven by notable improvement in South-eastern Asia, Southern Asia and South America in contrast to the continuing rise in hunger in most subregions of Africa and in Western Asia.
- ➔ It is estimated that between 638 and 720 million people, corresponding to 7.8 and 8.8 percent of the global population, respectively, faced hunger in 2024. Considering the point estimate (673 million), this indicates a decrease of 22 million compared to 2022. In 2024, hunger affected about 307 million people in Africa, 323 million in Asia and 34 million in Latin America and the Caribbean – 20.2, 6.7 and 5.1 percent of the population, respectively. The global number of undernourished is expected to decrease, but 512 million people are still projected to be facing hunger in 2030, of whom nearly 60 percent will be in Africa.
- ➔ About 2.3 billion people in the world are estimated to have been moderately or severely food insecure in 2024. The global prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity has declined gradually since 2021, reaching 28.0 percent in 2024. Food insecurity is on the rise in Africa and falling in Latin America and the Caribbean; it has been decreasing gradually in Asia for several consecutive years, while in Oceania and in Northern America and Europe, new estimates point to a slight decline from 2023 to 2024 following a several-year rise. Globally and in almost every region, food insecurity is more prevalent in rural areas than in urban areas and affects more women than men.
- ➔ Food prices rose throughout 2023 and 2024, pushing up the average cost of a healthy diet globally to 4.46 purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars per person per day, up from 4.30 PPP dollars in 2023 and 4.01 PPP dollars in 2022.
- ➔ Despite the increase in food prices during 2024, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet in the world fell from 2.76 billion in 2019 to 2.60 billion in 2024. However, the number increased in Africa from 864 million to just over 1 billion in this period (from 64 to 66.6 percent). In low-income countries, the number increased from 464 million in 2019 to 545 million (72 percent of the population) in 2024, and in lower-middle-income countries (excluding India), from 791 to 869 million (52 percent of the population) in the same period.
- ➔ Accelerated progress is needed to achieve the 2030 global targets for key indicators of child malnutrition. The world has made progress to reduce child stunting, with a decrease in the prevalence from 26.4 percent in 2012 to 23.2 percent in 2024. The global prevalence of child wasting and of child overweight remained largely unchanged during this period, estimated at 6.6 percent and 5.5 percent in 2024, respectively. On the other hand, the percentage of infants under six months of age receiving the important benefits of exclusive breastfeeding increased significantly from 37.0 percent in 2012 to 47.8 percent in 2023. Actions to promote exclusive breastfeeding can contribute to improving nutritional status throughout life.
- ➔ New updates of the prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15 to 49 years reveal an increase in the global prevalence from 27.6 to 30.7 percent. There was either no improvement or an increase in prevalence in nearly all regions from 2012 to 2023. Adult obesity has also been on the rise, from 12.1 percent in 2012 to 15.8 percent in 2022.
- ➔ Globally, about one-third of children aged 6 to 23 months and two-thirds of women aged 15 to 49 years achieved minimum dietary diversity, according to the latest estimates of a new global nutrition indicator to monitor SDG Target 2.2. Actions are needed to enable consumption of diverse diets for women and children.
- ➔ Global food markets have faced persistent pressures in recent years, with food price inflation emerging as a major concern since 2021. Food price inflation has slowed down the post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery process in terms of food security; indeed, based on the substantial economic rebound, a greater improvement in food security might have been expected. Since 2020, global food price inflation has outpaced headline inflation, highlighting persistent pressures within agricultural and food markets. This divergence peaked in January 2023, with food price inflation reaching 13.6 percent – 5.1 percentage points higher than headline inflation at 8.5 percent. Although both rates began to show signs of a downward trend by mid-2023, they remained elevated throughout the rest of the year. By 2024, food price inflation had reached its 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
- ➔ A disproportionate burden has been placed on low-income economies. Low-income countries have borne the brunt of recent food price increases. While median global food price inflation rose from 2.3 percent in December 2020 to 13.6 percent in January 2023, low-income countries experienced significantly steeper increases, with inflation peaking at 30 percent in May 2023. This trend has undermined household purchasing power, with likely consequences for food security and nutrition.
- ➔ Compounded global shocks have intensified food price inflation worldwide. Two major disruptions – the pandemic and the war in Ukraine – triggered sharp increases in global food commodity prices during 2021 and 2022, further amplified by rising energy costs. For example, these factors accounted for 47 percent and 35 percent of peak food price inflation in the United States of America and the euro area, respectively. The remaining 53 percent in the United States and 65 percent in the euro area were driven by non-commodity-related factors, including higher labour costs, exchange rate fluctuations, and potential increased profit margins along the supply chain.
- ➔ Fiscal and monetary policy responses amplified inflationary pressures. The economic policy environment during the pandemic – including expansive fiscal stimuli and accommodative monetary policies – interacted with supply-side constraints, forming a unique inflationary environment.
- ➔ Wage recovery lagged during the 2021 to 2023 period of high food price inflation, including in conflict-affected countries. Across countries, wage recovery was uneven. While some economies experienced real wage growth keeping pace with rising food prices, others, including those affected by conflict, saw real incomes decline.
- ➔ High food price inflation may worsen food security, particularly in low-income countries. A 10 percent increase in food prices is associated with a 3.5 percent rise in moderate to severe food insecurity, and a 1.8 percent increase in severe food insecurity. At the peak of inflation, 65 percent of low-income and 61 percent of lower-middle-income countries, home to 1.5 billion people, faced food price inflation above 10 percent, deepening inequalities and threatening progress on poverty reduction and food security and nutrition.
- ➔ Structural and gender inequalities amplify the impact of food price inflation, particularly in countries with high income inequality. Vulnerable groups, especially women and rural populations, are disproportionately affected due to limited resources, weaker social protection mechanisms, and fewer coping strategies.
- ➔ Child malnutrition can worsen with food price inflation. The 2021 to 2023 food price surge is associated with higher rates of wasting among children under five years of age. A 10 percent increase in food prices is associated with a 2.7 to 4.3 percent rise in overall wasting and a 4.8 to 6.1 percent increase in severe wasting among children under five years of age.
- ➔ Relative food prices across food groups and processing levels remained fairly stable globally between 2011 and 2021. Nutrient-dense foods such as fruits and vegetables continue to be the most expensive per kilocalorie. In general, ultra-processed foods tend to have lower prices per kilocalorie compared to less processed alternatives. Ultra-processed foods are increasingly displacing more nutritious alternatives despite growing evidence of their adverse health impacts.
- ➔ Rising staple food prices have put additional pressure on the diets of low-income households. From 2019 to 2024, the steepest food price increases in countries like Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan were in starchy staple foods and oils. As starchy staple foods form the core of diets for the poorest households, such increases can undermine food security and nutrition; however, access to low-cost items in other food groups may help sustain dietary adequacy despite food price inflation.
- ➔ In response to the wide-ranging impacts of high food prices – and to prevent future inflationary episodes – a mix of policy measures is essential:
▪ Protect vulnerable populations with well-designed fiscal responses. Time-bound and targeted fiscal measures, such as temporary tax relief on essential goods and social protection programmes, can help shield vulnerable households during food price spikes. To be effective, these interventions should be aligned with broader policy frameworks, include clear exit strategies and graduation targets, and be carefully monitored to ensure that benefits reach consumers.
▪ Align fiscal and monetary policies to stabilize markets. Credible and transparent monetary policy, paired with sound fiscal interventions, helps anchor inflation expectations and support market stability. Strategic public spending, including investments to support food security and nutrition, and realistic fiscal planning can reinforce resilience and protect long-term economic health.
▪ Prioritize structural and trade-related measures for lasting impact. Short-term price controls offer limited relief but risk market distortions and undermine incentives for long term investments. A longer-term strategy should focus on enhancing adequate strategic food reserves, increasing market transparency, and investing in trade-related infrastructure, while reducing trade disturbance, to ensure integrated markets and reduce the frequency and severity of price shocks.
▪ Strengthen and invest in data and information flows. Robust agricultural market information systems are key to managing price volatility and preventing speculation. These need to be strengthened by up-to-date high-quality data. Transparent, timely data support more effective decision-making and help smallholder farmers and consumers navigate changing market conditions.
▪ Invest in resilient agrifood systems. To reduce the likelihood of future high food price episodes, sustained investments are needed in agriculture, research and development, and infrastructure. Improving storage, transport and productivity enhances supply chain efficiency and strengthens overall agrifood systems resilience against the drivers of food price inflation.
