UN report: Approximately 645 million people faced hunger worldwide in 2025

The United Nations (UN) has announced that approximately 645 million people worldwide faced hunger in 2025. The 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, prepared by UN agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), has been published.

According to the report, a decline in global hunger has been recorded for the third consecutive year. In 2025, an estimated 7.8 percent of the world's population faced hunger. This rate was calculated at 8.1 percent in 2024 and 8.6 percent in 2022.

UN data showed that the number of people suffering from hunger decreased by approximately 14 million compared to 2024 and by 43 million compared to 2022. However, the report emphasized that the current level remains very high and that progress is fragile.

In terms of regional distribution, the highest number was seen in Africa. It was stated that 309 million people in Africa, 292 million in Asia, and 32 million in Latin America and the Caribbean suffered from hunger in 2025. The report noted that steady progress has been made in Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean in recent years, while the long-standing upward trend in Africa has halted.

520 MILLION PEOPLE MAY SUFFER FROM HUNGER IN 2030

The statement indicated that depending on how long the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on energy and fertilizer prices and food inflation lasts, it is projected that approximately 510 to 520 million people will still suffer from hunger in 2030, pointing out that this number is higher than the lowest estimate of 503 million people projected in the pre-conflict scenario.

This estimate is above the lowest projection of 503 million people in the pre-conflict scenario. The statement also warned that some negative developments, including the effects of extreme weather events such as El Niño in 2026 and 2027, were not included in the projections, and that these risks could increase the pressure on hunger.

''This report shows that progress is possible. However, we need to move faster.''

Qu Dongyu stated that strong political will, sustainable investments, and supportive policies are needed to end hunger and make healthy diets affordable for everyone. Dongyu expressed that developments such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the Gaza crisis, and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have highlighted the need to strengthen the resilience of agri-food systems.

News Source: 12punto