Hunger is falling but is still higher than pre-COVID levels: UN report

A UN report indicates global hunger declined in 2025, with 645 million people facing hunger, a decrease from previous years. Despite this improvement, hunger levels remain higher than pre-COVID-19. Africa continues to be the hardest-hit region, with 309 million undernourished people. Conflict, economic shocks, and climate extremes are driving acute food shortages. While the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet has also fallen, affordability remains a significant challenge, particularly in Africa and Asia. The UN projects further reductions in hunger by 2030, but millions are still expected to face food insecurity.

A UN report reveals that 2.69 billion people globally, or one in three, cannot afford a healthy diet, despite a third consecutive year of declining global hunger in 2025. The cost of a healthy diet is calculated at $4.28 purchasing power parity dollars per day, significantly exceeding the extreme poverty line. This affordability crisis, particularly acute in Africa where 66.6% of the population cannot afford healthy food, contributes to rising obesity rates. Experts from five UN agencies urge action to reduce the costs of fruits, vegetables, and dairy, and to shift government policies away from subsidizing only cereals. The report highlights that achieving zero hunger by 2030 will require substantial effort.