Africa Becomes Global Epicenter of Hunger in UN Report

Five United Nations agencies released The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 (SOFI 2026) report on July 21, revealing that Africa has become the continent with the highest number of people facing hunger for the first time. In 2025, approximately 309 million people in Africa—20 percent of its population—faced hunger, surpassing Asia's 292 million people. The report attributes this shift to rapid population growth, climate-related shocks, and conflicts in regions such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Global hunger has declined for the third consecutive year, falling to an estimated 7.8 percent of the population, or 645 million people, in 2025. However, progress remains fragile. The average global cost of a healthy diet rose to 4.28 PPP dollars per person per day, leaving 2.69 billion people unable to afford nutritious food. In Africa, 66.6 percent of the population cannot afford a healthy diet.

UN officials warn that recent gains are threatened by the 2026 Middle East conflict, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, climate extremes like El Niño, and reduced humanitarian funding. If these trends persist, up to 520 million people could face hunger by 2030. The report also notes a rise in adult obesity to 16.2 percent in 2024 and highlights stalling progress in maternal and child nutrition.