UN report shows global hunger falls to 7.8% in 2025, Africa remains hardest hit
The United Nations' State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 (SOFI) report estimates that 7.8 % of the global population – about 645 million people – faced hunger in 2025, a decline from 8.1 % in 2024 and 8.6 % in 2022. The improvement marks the third consecutive year of falling global hunger rates.
Africa continues to bear the greatest burden, with roughly 309 million people experiencing hunger, the highest absolute number among all regions. More than half of the continent’s population (56.6 %) suffered moderate or severe food insecurity, and nearly 80 % of African children aged six to 23 months were under‑nourished. West Africa’s prevalence stood at 16.9 % in 2025, still among the highest sub‑regional rates.
Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean recorded steady gains, while Europe, North America and Northern America remained well below the global average. Overall, 25.8 % of the world’s population – about 2.1 billion people – experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2025, a reduction of roughly 86 million from the previous year but still above pre‑pandemic levels.
Entities: African continent · Asia · Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) · International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) · UNICEF · United Nations · United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) · United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) · World Food Programme (WFP) · World Health Organization (WHO)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 309 million people in Africa were hungry in 2025, the highest absolute number among regions. (UN SOFI 2026 report)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 25.8% of the global population – about 2.1 billion people – experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2025. (UN SOFI 2026 report)
- [● 2 SOURCES] 56.6% of Africa’s population faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2025. (UN SOFI 2026 report)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 16.9% of West Africa’s population was affected by hunger in 2025. (UN SOFI 2026 report)
- [● 4 SOURCES] 7.8% of the global population – about 645 million people – faced hunger in 2025. (UN SOFI 2026 report)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Almost 80% of African children aged six to 23 months were under‑nourished in 2025. (UN SOFI 2026 report)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Global hunger prevalence declined from 8.1% in 2024 and 8.6% in 2022. (UN SOFI 2026 report)