Hunger and food insecurity
About 645 million people faced hunger in 2025. Numbers have fallen three years running, but conflict, climate shocks and prices keep progress fragile.
How this affects people
Hunger is rarely about the world not producing enough food. It is about people being unable to reach or afford it — because of conflict, economic shocks, weather extremes or collapsing local markets.
The 2026 UN report on food security shows real progress: hunger fell for a third consecutive year, to 7.8% of the world's population. But for the first time Africa hosts the largest number of hungry people, and 2.1 billion people still experience moderate or severe food insecurity.
Conflicts such as the war in Sudan show how quickly gains can reverse: displacement, blocked aid and destroyed harvests can push whole regions into famine conditions within months.
Look at what keeps the problem going
- 01Armed conflict, displacement and blocked humanitarian access
- 02Droughts, floods and heat that destroy harvests and livestock
- 03Food-price inflation and the high cost of a healthy diet
- 04Poverty and weak social protection systems
What could happen next
The future leaves room for choices. Compare the outlooks, check what supports them and notice where the evidence becomes less certain
Global decline, regional emergencies
Global hunger may keep edging down, but conflict zones and drought-hit regions can deteriorate quickly. Famine-risk hotspots need sustained humanitarian access.
The future is not a timetable. These summaries reflect published scenarios and trends, with deeper uncertainty at longer horizons. Choices made now matter.
Where could a useful response begin?
Begin with a question you can investigate. Compare the sources and follow related briefings to see how the problem connects to other lives and places. This prototype does not accept proposals yet.
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