Global hunger declines across continents but climate, trade risks loom, UN says
Global hunger declined for a third consecutive year in 2025, with improvements recorded across every continent, although mounting risks from climate shocks and trade disruption could threaten further progress, a United Nations report said.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Global hunger declined for a third consecutive year in 2025, driven largely by gains in Asia, particularly India, as well as Latin America and the Caribbean. However, climate shocks and trade disruption pose significant threats to global food systems.
Imagine you're trying to grow food, but the weather is getting worse and it's harder to get the food to people who need it. That's what's happening with global hunger. It's getting a little better, but there are still big problems to solve.
Analysis
A $60B Vote of Confidence
The United Nations report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World highlights a significant decline in global hunger for the third consecutive year in 2025. This improvement is driven largely by gains in Asia, particularly India, as well as Latin America and the Caribbean. The report estimates that around 645 million people, or 7.8% of the world's population, experienced hunger last year, down from 8.1% in 2024 and 8.6% in 2022.
The trend offers grounds for optimism, but the report also warns of mounting risks from climate shocks and trade disruption that could threaten further progress. The interruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for energy and agricultural inputs, is driving up prices for fuel, fertilizers, and transportation, increasing food production costs worldwide. A potentially strong El Nino weather pattern could add further pressure by disrupting agricultural production in vulnerable regions.
Why Climate Shocks Matter
Climate shocks pose a significant threat to global food systems. The report highlights that the war in Gaza has not materially altered the global hunger figures because the report tracks chronic, long-term undernourishment rather than acute food insecurity caused by conflicts or disasters. Food deliveries into Gaza have increased recently, helping to stabilize conditions, but rebuilding the territory's devastated agricultural sector will take years.
The Affordability Gap
Despite progress against hunger, child malnutrition remains stubbornly high, and anaemia among women is worsening. Access to nutritious food remains a major challenge. The report estimates that 2.69 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet, which it calculated would cost an average of $4.28 a day in purchasing-power-parity terms. The affordability gap was particularly stark in Africa, where 66.1% of people could not afford a healthy diet, more than double the levels recorded in Asia and Latin America.
The Road Ahead
The report projects that global hunger will continue to fall by 2030. However, the risks from climate shocks and trade disruption require immediate attention to ensure food security. The United Nations must work with governments and other stakeholders to address these challenges and ensure that progress against hunger is sustained.
Key points
- Global hunger declined for a third consecutive year in 2025.
- Improvements were recorded across every continent, driven largely by gains in Asia, particularly India, as well as Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Climate shocks and trade disruption pose significant threats to global food systems.
- The affordability gap remains a major challenge, with 2.69 billion people unable to afford a healthy diet.
- The report projects that global hunger will continue to fall by 2030.
The decline in global hunger is a positive trend, and with continued efforts to address the challenges, it's possible that the number of people experiencing hunger will continue to fall. However, the risks from climate shocks and trade disruption require immediate attention to ensure that progress is sustained.
The risks from climate shocks and trade disruption pose a significant threat to global food systems, and if not addressed, could lead to a reversal of the progress made against hunger. The war in Gaza and the potential strong El Nino weather pattern are just a few examples of the challenges that need to be addressed.
