New UN report reveals uneven progress in fight against hunger; while global food insecurity has slightly improved, millions in Africa and Western Asia face rising levels of undernourishment
By Bunmi Yekini
The world inched closer to food security in 2024, with an estimated 673 million people, or 8.2% of the global population, experiencing hunger, according to the newly released State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 report. This marks a modest decline from 2023’s 8.5%, but progress is proving deeply unequal, especially across Africa and Western Asia where hunger continues to rise sharply.
The report, jointly published by five United Nations agencies and unveiled at the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, painted a picture of improvement tempered by ongoing crises. While regions like southern Asia and Latin America saw notable drops in hunger rates, the number of undernourished people in Africa swelled past 307 million, pushing the continent’s hunger prevalence beyond 20% – more than double the global average.
“While it is encouraging to see a decrease in the global hunger rate, we must recognize that progress is uneven,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. “We need to intensify efforts… especially in regions where hunger remains persistent.”
In Western Asia, hunger affected 12.7% of the population, over 39 million people, reflecting the continued impact of prolonged conflicts, economic fragility, and climate shocks.
A Fragile Recovery
Between 2022 and 2024, the global hunger rate declined by 0.5 percentage points, amounting to a reduction of 22 million people. But the report stresses that these numbers remain above pre-pandemic levels, with global food price inflation emerging as a significant barrier to recovery.
From 2020 to 2023, food price inflation routinely outpaced general inflation. In January 2023, it peaked at 13.6% globally, 5.1 points higher than headline inflation. In low-income countries, the burden was even more severe, hitting 30% in mid-2023.
“In times of rising food prices and disrupted global value chains, we must step up our investments in rural and agricultural transformation,” urged IFAD President Alvaro Lario. “These investments are critical for global stability.”
Despite surging food prices, there was one bright spot: the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet fell from 2.76 billion in 2019 to 2.60 billion in 2024. Yet in low-income countries, the situation worsened, the unaffordability rose by 81 million people, reaching 545 million in 2024.
Child Nutrition: Mixed Results
The SOFI 2025 report also tracks global nutrition targets. While the prevalence of stunting in children under five fell from 26.4% in 2012 to 23.2% in 2024, the figures for wasting and overweight children showed little change. More concerning, anaemia among women of reproductive age rose from 27.6% in 2012 to 30.7% in 2023.
Yet, improvements were recorded in exclusive breastfeeding, which climbed from 37% in 2012 to 47.8% in 2023, and in dietary diversity for infants and women.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow and thrive,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “This report underscores the urgent need to act for the world’s youngest and most vulnerable children… including the importance of breastfeeding, which provides the best start to a baby’s life.”
Aid Fatigue vs Rising Needs
A striking warning came from World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain, who noted that budget shortfalls are threatening the progress made.
“Last year, WFP reached 124 million people with lifesaving food assistance. This year, funding cuts of up to 40% mean that tens of millions will lose the vital lifeline we provide,” McCain warned. “Continued failure to provide critical aid… will soon wipe out these hard-won gains.”
The report projects that 512 million people could remain chronically undernourished by 2030 — with Africa alone accounting for nearly 60% of that figure — a clear signal that SDG 2: Zero Hunger is increasingly out of reach without urgent, coordinated action.
“There is still much to be done to relieve millions from the burdens of food insecurity and malnutrition,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “This report shows where the gaps are, and where we must direct our efforts.”
What Next?
SOFI 2025 recommends a multi-pronged response: targeted fiscal support, transparent monetary policy, and strategic investments in agricultural infrastructure, food systems, and research. The goal is not just recovery, but resilience, ensuring that future global shocks don’t undo hard-won gains.