Undernourishment and Hunger in the World

How many people are undernourished, where they live, and how the situation is changing.

How Many People Are Undernourished?

According to the FAO’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (2025 edition), 8.2% of the global population—approximately 673 million people—were undernourished in 2024. This was a decline of 15 million compared with 2023 and 22 million compared with 2022. Moderate or severe food insecurity affected 2.3 billion people (28% of the global population) in 2024—335 million more than in 2019.

Regional Differences

Africa has the highest prevalence of undernourishment at 20.2%. Asia is home to the largest number of undernourished people: 323 million. Conflict, poverty, and climate extremes make some countries and regions especially vulnerable. Children and women are often hit hardest; chronic undernutrition in early life can cause lasting harm.

Malnutrition: Undernutrition and More

Malnutrition includes undernutrition (not enough calories or nutrients), micronutrient deficiencies (e.g. lack of vitamins or minerals), and overweight and obesity. Many countries face a “double burden”: undernutrition alongside rising obesity. Undernourishment is one dimension of this broader picture.

Measuring Hunger

Indicators such as the prevalence of undernourishment (PoU), the number of undernourished people, and child stunting and wasting are used to track progress. Data come from household surveys, national statistics, and FAO models. Improving data quality helps target policies and aid.

What Drives Hunger?

Hunger is driven by poverty, inequality, conflict, climate change, and poor infrastructure. Ending it requires stable food supply, access to land and jobs, social protection, and peace. International goals, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2: Zero Hunger), aim to eliminate hunger and improve nutrition by 2030, but progress has been uneven.

Data Sources and Country-Level Information

Undernourishment estimates are from the FAO State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report and related databases. Child stunting and wasting are tracked by WHO and UNICEF. For country-by-country undernourishment rates (prevalence of undernourishment as % of population), see Countries and click any country. We update country and topic data every six months so that figures stay aligned with the latest FAO and UN releases.