# UN: Africa leads chronic hunger as global hunger falls > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/un-report-on-global-diet-affordability > Updated: 2026-08-22T20:44:00.000Z. Sources: 157. Developments: 9. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 (SOFI) report shows global hunger fell to 7.8% of the population in 2025—about 645 million people—marking a third consecutive year of decline. However, progress is uneven. Africa has overtaken Asia as the region with the highest absolute number of hungry people, with approximately 309 million individuals undernourished. In Africa, 66.6% of the population cannot afford a healthy diet, and nearly 80% of children aged six to 23 months suffer from under-nutrition. In Somalia, the humanitarian crisis has intensified due to severe funding shortages and environmental shocks. International aid cuts, including reductions by the United States and other Western nations, have reportedly caused funding for acute malnutrition in parts of the country to drop by more than 80% this year. Consequently, 205 health and nutrition facilities have already closed, with up to 618 facilities at risk of closure nationwide under severe funding scenarios. UNICEF reports that in the first half of 2026, admissions to stabilization centers for children with severe acute malnutrition rose by 32% compared to the previous year. An estimated 1.9 million children are expected to suffer from malnutrition this year. This crisis is compounded by a severe drought that destroyed harvests, killed livestock, and displaced approximately 500,000 people between January and April. In Baidoa, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reports that half of the children suffer from acute malnutrition, with one in four in a state of severe malnutrition. Somalia was also excluded from a $2 billion global humanitarian aid pledge announced by the U.S. following allegations of aid diversion and corruption. ## Claims - Approximately 1.9 million children are projected to suffer from malnutrition this year. (disputed by 14 sources) - An estimated 1.9 million children are expected to suffer from malnutrition in Somalia this year. (disputed by 3 sources) - Approximately 1.2 million children in Somalia are expected to suffer from malnutrition this year. (disputed by 2 sources) - Of the children facing malnutrition, 500,000 are suffering from severe acute malnutrition. (corroborated by 13 sources) - Admissions to stabilization centers for severe acute malnutrition and complications rose by 32% in the first six months of the year compared to last year. (corroborated by 10 sources) - 205 health and nutrition facilities in Somalia have closed due to aid cuts. (corroborated by 10 sources) - The UN agencies FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO released the 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition report. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Global chronic hunger fell to 644.6 million people in 2025, about 14 million fewer than in 2024. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Global chronic hunger prevalence dropped from 8.1 % to 7.8 % in 2025. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Africa had 309.2 million chronically hungry people in 2025, surpassing Asia. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Africa's share of global chronic hunger rose to 48 % in 2025. (corroborated by 5 sources) - 66.6 % of Africa’s population (about 1.031 billion people) could not afford a healthy diet in 2025. (corroborated by 5 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-22: Somalia child malnutrition surges as aid cuts close health facilities UNICEF warns that aid cuts in Somalia have forced the closure of over 200 health facilities, causing a 32% surge in severe child malnutrition amid ongoing drought and displacement. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/somalia-faces-severe-food-shortages-and-rising-child-malnutrition ### 2026-08-20: Somalia faces deepening hunger crisis as aid cuts shutter health facilities Aid cuts and climate crises in Somalia have led to the closure of 205 health facilities, leaving 1.9 million children at risk of malnutrition and six million people facing acute food insecurity. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/somalia-faces-acute-food-insecurity-for-6-million-people ### 2026-08-19: Global hunger declines to 645 million but Zero Hunger goal remains distant A new UN report shows global hunger fell to 645 million in 2025, but regional disparities and rising costs of healthy diets threaten the 2030 'Zero Hunger' goal. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/global-hunger-declines-to-645-million-but-zero-hunger-goal-remains-distant ### 2026-07-30: UN report shows global hunger falls to 7.8% in 2025, Africa remains hardest hit UN SOFI 2026 report says global hunger fell to 7.8% (645 M people) in 2025, but Africa still faces the worst crisis with over 300 M hungry and more than half the continent in severe food insecurity. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-report-finds-over-half-of-africa-faces-food-insecurity-while-global-hunger-drops-below-8 ### 2026-07-27: Africa overtakes Asia in chronic hunger as UN report shows UN agencies report global chronic hunger fell to 644.6 million in 2025, but Africa’s number rose to 309.2 million, overtaking Asia and accounting for 48 % of the world’s chronic hunger. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/africas-chronic-hunger-reaches-309-million-overtaking-asia-un-report-finds ### 2026-07-27: UN warns of soaring food insecurity across the Horn of Africa The UN reports 265 million people in 58 countries face acute food insecurity in 2025, driven by conflict, pandemic shocks and climate‑related extreme weather, with the Horn of Africa hardest hit. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-warns-of-soaring-food-insecurity-across-the-horn-of-africa ### 2026-07-22: UN report finds 309 million Africans hungry in 2025 as global famine eases UN's 2026 food security report shows global hunger fell to 645 million, yet Africa still has 309 million hungry; Senegal pledges food‑sovereignty reforms. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-report-finds-309-million-africans-hungry-in-2025-as-global-famine-eases ### 2026-07-20: UN report shows global hunger falls to 645 million, Africa remains hardest hit UN SOFI 2026 shows world hunger fell to 645 million in 2025, but Africa still bears the highest burden; Brazil, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic moved off the hunger map, while 150 million children remain a 105 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-report-finds-one-in-three-cannot-afford-healthy-diet-flags-sdg-shortfalls ### 2026-07-18: UN report says logistics drive unaffordable healthy diets for 2.7 billion people UN says post‑harvest logistics make healthy diets unaffordable for 2.7 billion people; World Bank warns four risks could raise 2026 food prices by 2.5%. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-warns-27-billion-people-cannot-afford-nutritious-food --- Cite as: UN: Africa leads chronic hunger as global hunger falls. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/un-report-on-global-diet-affordability