Rise of Global Food Insecurity Detailed in New UN Report: Key Graphics Illustrated
The 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, published by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme, and other international organisations, reveals a complex picture of global food security and nutrition.
According to the report, global chronic hunger declined in 2024, affecting about 8.2% of the global population, or 673 million people, down from 8.5% in 2023 [1][2]. Child stunting rates improved, dropping from 26.4% in 2012 to 23.2% in 2024, and exclusive breastfeeding rates increased as well. However, food insecurity remains widespread, with 2.3 billion people (28% of the world) facing moderate or severe food insecurity.
One of the key concerns highlighted in the report is the inequitable progress. Hunger increased in many parts of Africa and Western Asia, and the gender gap in food insecurity has widened, with women consistently more affected than men globally. Dietary diversity remains inadequate for many women and children, with about two-thirds of children aged 6 months to 2 years and one-third of women aged 15 to 49 not consuming sufficiently diverse diets for adequate nutrition [1][2].
The report emphasises the impact of persistent high food price inflation, which undermines purchasing power, especially among low-income households, rural communities, and women. It stresses the need for policy coherence in fiscal and monetary action, market stability, resilient trade, and investments in resilient agrifood systems to counter these challenges and accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2.1 and 2.2) by 2030 [3][4].
Food price inflation outstripped general inflation over the past five years, with median global food price inflation rising from 2.3% in December 2020 to 13.6% in January 2023. The highest rates of inflation occurred in low-income countries, with several countries experiencing "hyperinflation." The SOFI report concludes that "people who are unable to afford even a least-cost healthy diet are likely experiencing some level of food insecurity."
The report attributes the heightened inflation to a combination of factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and shifting monetary policy. The cost of a healthy diet increased during 2023 and 2024, with the average cost rising from 3.30 purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars per person, per day in 2019 to 4.46 PPP dollars in 2024.
The report also explores the role of export restrictions and import tariffs on fertilisers in price spikes during previous episodes of global food price crises, including in 2007-08 and 2011-12. The process of manufacturing nitrogen-based fertilisers, which are typically produced using fossil gas as an input, is an energy-intensive one, accounting for about 1 per cent of all global energy usage. The concentration of agricultural markets, including the fertiliser market, is a "systemic issue that undermines efficiency and affordability" in both low- and high-income countries.
The SOFI report warns that the "deteriorating food insecurity" in territories and countries currently affected by humanitarian crises, such as the Gaza Strip, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen, and Haiti, may not be fully reflected in its current estimates. The report also notes that around 2.3 billion people were "moderate or severely food insecure" in 2024, representing an increase of 683 million more people than when the SDGs were launched a decade ago.
The report highlights the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on global fertiliser markets, with economic sanctions against Russia and Belarus, two of the world's largest fertiliser exporters, upending the markets. Global potassium fertiliser prices were already on the rise prior to the conflict, due to export restrictions on fertilisers from China.
In summary, the SOFI 2025 report acknowledges recent improvements in food security and nutrition globally but emphasises significant challenges from regional disparities, gender inequality, inadequate dietary diversity, and food price inflation that threaten achieving global hunger and malnutrition goals by 2030. Concerted and innovative global, regional, and national efforts remain essential.
[1] FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, WHO. (2025). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025: Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition, and affordable healthy diets. Rome: FAO. [2] FAO. (2025). Regional Overviews of Food Insecurity in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Rome: FAO. [3] World Bank. (2021). World Development Report 2021: The World is Building Back Better. Washington, DC: World Bank. [4] UNICEF. (2021). The State of the World's Children 2021: On My Mind: Promoting, protecting and caring for children's mental health. New York: UNICEF.
- The impact of science, especially in the field of environmental science, is crucial in addressing climate change, which heavily influences food production and nutritional health.
- Adequate access to medical-conditions treatment can help manage health-and-wellness issues related to food and nutrition deficiencies, such as metabolic disorders and anemia.
- Fitness-and-exercise routines, combined with proper nutrition, can boost overall health and wellbeing, contributing to improved food security and nutrition.
- Investing in data-and-cloud-computing technology could help improve food security by monitoring food prices, tracking crop yields, and mitigating climate risks in agriculture.
- Personal-finance education can empower individuals to make informed decisions about spending on food, prioritizing nutrition and reducing the risk of food insecurity.
- CBD products, derived from hemp, may have potential benefits for managing certain medical-conditions related to food and nutrition, such as inflammation and appetite stimulation.
- The increasing cost of food, due to inflation and other factors, can make it challenging for people to maintain a healthy and diverse diet, leading to more instances of malnutrition and food-related illnesses.
- The business sector, including food-and-drink companies, has a crucial role in promoting sustainable food systems and affordable, healthy diets for all.
- In some countries, the practice of casino-and-gambling can lead to financial instability, which can in turn impact an individual's ability to afford nutritious food and access healthcare.
- The sports industry, particularly professional athletes, can serve as role models for promoting healthy lifestyles, paying special attention to the importance of nutrition and fitness.
- Weather patterns play a significant role in agricultural productivity, and understanding and predicting climate changes can help farmers adapt their practices, ensuring food security and sustainable food systems in the future.
