Global food security faces rising hunger and price warnings

Global food security faces dual challenges of rising hunger and increasing prices. According to United Nations data, approximately 645 million people—about 7.8% of the world population—faced hunger in 2025. While global hunger rates have seen a slight decline from 8.6% in 2022, the total number of people suffering from hunger remains roughly 61 million higher than 2019 levels. Africa remains the most affected region, with an estimated 309 million people facing undernourishment.

Simultaneously, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that food prices may face significant upward pressure through 2027. FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero noted that rising energy and transportation costs, combined with disrupted trade routes and adverse weather conditions like El Niño, are creating risks for food supply. These factors, including grain shipment disruptions in the Black Sea and fertilizer supply issues, could lead to accelerated price increases for staples such as rice, bread, and sugar, particularly impacting low-income households in Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.