Global hunger declines in 2024, but Africa faces rising food insecurity, undernourishment

Global hunger declines in 2024, but Africa faces rising food insecurity, undernourishment

In 2024, an estimated 306.5 million people across the continent faced hunger, representing 20.2 per cent of Africa’s population—an increase from 267.3 million people, or 18.9 per cent, in 2021, marking a 15 per cent rise over the three-year period.

Global hunger levels declined in 2024 for the third consecutive year since 2021, according to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The report estimates that between 638 million and 720 million people—representing 7.8 per cent to 8.8 per cent of the global population—faced hunger in 2024.

Based on the midpoint estimate, about 673 million people experienced hunger, marking a decrease of 15 million from 2023 and 22 million from 2022.

However, the situation in Africa remains alarming, with hunger continuing to rise for the third straight year.

In 2024, an estimated 306.5 million people across the continent faced hunger, representing 20.2 per cent of Africa’s population. This marks a sharp rise from 267.3 million people, or 18.9 per cent, in 2021—a 15 per cent increase over three years.

“It is estimated that more than one in five people living in Africa are facing chronic hunger, equivalent to nearly 307 million people,” the report reads.

Hunger is rising in all African subregions except Eastern Africa.

The most significant increase was recorded in Middle Africa, which had the highest Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) in both the continent and the world in 2024 at 30.2 per cent.

Northern Africa also saw a worrying jump, with the PoU rising from 7.8 per cent in 2022 to 10.7 per cent in 2024.

More gradual increases

Southern and Western Africa experienced more gradual increases, with PoU rates reaching 11.4 per cent and 16.5 per cent, respectively.

Overall, chronic undernourishment in Africa has risen by 113 million people since 2015, and the outlook remains bleak. Projections indicate the continent will bear the largest share of the global hunger burden in the coming years.

“The global number of undernourished is expected to decrease, but 512 million people are still projected to be facing hunger in 2030, of whom nearly 60 per cent will be in Africa.”

One of the key drivers of worsening hunger in Africa is rising food prices. According to the report, food costs surged through 2023 and 2024, pushing the global average cost of a healthy diet to $4.46 (Sh576.5) PPP per person per day—up from $4.30 (Sh555.8) in 2023 and $4.01 (Sh518.3) in 2022.

Despite higher food prices, the number of people globally unable to afford a healthy diet fell from 2.76 billion in 2019 to 2.60 billion in 2024.

However, Africa experienced the opposite trend: the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet rose from 864 million in 2019 to just over 1 billion in 2024.

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