UN Report: 645 million people faced hunger in 2025

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, jointly prepared by five UN agencies, estimates that some 645 million people, representing 7.8 percent of the global population, faced hunger in 2025.

The report, prepared by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), was launched at FAO headquarters in Rome this week.

At the launch, the FAO highlighted that the figure of 645 million indicates global hunger has declined across continents, with 14 million fewer people experiencing hunger than in 2024 and 43 million fewer than at the 2022 peak. It also noted that food security improved substantially, especially in South America and Southern Asia.

However, the UN agencies warn that the numbers remain alarming and that urgent action is needed, as geopolitical tensions and climate-related risks could threaten global food systems.

Threats to global food systems could threaten recent gains

In an interview with Reuters, FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero said that disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for energy and agricultural inputs, are among the greatest immediate concerns, especially because such disruptions drive up prices for fuel, fertilizers and transportation, increasing food production costs worldwide.

Moreover, the FAO economist observed that a potentially strong El Niño weather pattern could add further pressure by disrupting agricultural production in vulnerable regions.

Need for determined policy to sustain gains

At the report’s launch, FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu said the report’s findings demonstrate “that determined policy action can deliver results.”

However, despite the positive developments, the Director-General insisted that work must continue to sustain and accelerate recent gains.

309 million Africans – one in five – remain undernourished

The report found that some 309 million people in Africa remain undernourished and rapid population growth could result in the absolute number of hungry people increasing in the coming years.

While the prevalence of hunger on the continent declining from 20.3 percent in 2024 to 20.0 percent in 2025, which marked the first interruption of Africa’s upward hunger trend since 2017, the UN agencies reiterate that one in five Africans is facing hunger.

Child malnutrition remains high

The UN agencies present a worrying global outlook.

Looking ahead, the report projects that around 520 million people could still face hunger in 2030, putting the world off track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).

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Moreover, the report shows that child malnutrition remains stubbornly high, anaemia among women is worsening, and adult obesity has continued to rise steadily.

Priorities and appeals

During the launch, the agencies emphasized “the need to keep food, energy and agricultural input markets open; avoid export restrictions; and strengthen targeted social protection programmes for vulnerable populations.”

Moreover, they urged governments and development partners to ensure farmers can access fertilizers, quality seeds, water, credit and other essential inputs “before planting decisions become irreversible.”

They also called for longer-term investments across agrifood systems, “particularly in irrigation, storage facilities, cold chains, transport infrastructure, early-warning systems and anticipatory action mechanisms.”

Such investments, they state, can reduce the cost of nutritious foods, improve resilience to shocks, and make healthy diets more affordable.