Global hunger and food insecurity

A United Nations report released in July 2026 showed that the share of undernourished people fell for a third year, dropping to 7.8 % in 2025 – about 645 million individuals worldwide. The decline was uneven, with Africa still accounting for roughly half of the global hungry population and risks such as Hormuz shipping disruptions and El Niño highlighted as potential setbacks.

A week later, the UK’s Defra agency and the State of Food Insecurity and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2026 report examined food‑security trends from a national and global perspective. The UK Food Security Index indicated a stable domestic food‑production outlook, rising productivity and a diversified import base, while the SOFI analysis noted that different hunger indicators can give conflicting signals and that data gaps remain acute in low‑income and crisis‑affected regions. The report called for stronger, country‑led high‑frequency surveys and better coordination to improve monitoring and guide aid allocation.