757 Million people experienced hunger globally in 2023

World falls short on zero hunger goals

At the recent G20 Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty Task Force Ministerial Meeting in Brazil, a new annual report revealed the global setback in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, Zero Hunger, by 2030. The report shows that the world has regressed to levels of undernourishment comparable to those in 2008-2009, with current global hunger figures stagnating at around 713 to 757 million people in 2023—an increase of about 152 million from 2019.

1 in 11 people worldwide faced hunger in 2023, 1 in 5 in Africa

Regional disparities are stark, with hunger rates rising in Africa (20.4%), remaining steady in Asia (8.1%), and showing improvement in Latin America (6.2%). Notably, hunger has worsened in Western Asia, the Caribbean, and several African subregions from 2022 to 2023. If current trends persist, about 582 million people are projected to be chronically undernourished by 2030, half of whom will be in Africa, signaling a troubling stagnation since the adoption of the SDGs in 2015.

The report underscores that 2.33 billion people globally faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023, with over 864 million experiencing severe food insecurity. This figure has remained high since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The issue of economic access to healthy diets persists, with over 2.8 billion people unable to afford a nutritious diet in 2022, particularly in low-income countries.

Progress in specific areas like exclusive breastfeeding has been noted, with rates increasing to 48%. However, challenges remain, including stagnant low birthweight prevalence, high stunting rates among children under five, and rising adult obesity rates. The report also highlights a concerning rise in the double burden of malnutrition, which combines undernutrition with overweight and obesity.

Food insecurity and malnutrition are exacerbated by persistent food price inflation, conflict, climate change, and economic downturns. The report’s theme, “Financing to End Hunger, Food Insecurity, and All Forms of Malnutrition,” calls for increased and more effective financing, alongside reforms in agrifood systems and improved access to healthy diets. The UN agencies involved stress the need for innovative financing solutions and coordinated efforts to address the looming gap in resources essential for achieving SDG 2.

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, IFAD President Alvaro Lario, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasize that mobilizing resources and implementing effective policies are crucial for ending hunger and malnutrition. The report highlights the urgent need for equitable solutions to bridge the financing gap and enhance global food security and nutrition frameworks, particularly in countries most affected by hunger and malnutrition.