Story perspectives

Global Hunger Falls, Yet Africa Faces 309 M Undernourishment

7/22/2026

Summary

UN Hunger Decline

The United Nations reported global hunger fell to 645 million people in 2025.
Africa has 309 million undernourished people and the highest share of the 2.69 billion who cannot afford a healthy diet.
A healthy diet cost $4.28 per day in 2025, up from $3.44 in 2021.
Child stunting affects 150 million under-fives while adult obesity hit 16.2 percent in 2024.
Authors warn Strait of Hormuz disruptions and a strong El Niño could raise food costs.

Summary

EU Subsidies Spike

EU farm subsidies have lifted fruit and vegetable prices, raising diet cost by 36 percent between 2021 and 2025.
FAO advises shifting subsidies to fruit, vegetables and labour-saving technology to lower costs.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calls for front-of-pack labels, junk-food taxes and bans on child marketing to improve diet affordability.
The EU protein action plan aims to cut feed imports and boost legume output, pending CAP 2028-2034 funding.

History

Historical Context

In 2007-08, drought, oil and biofuel demand pushed the FAO Food Price Index to triple, triggering riots in Africa and Asia and prompting the UN World Food Programme to warn of acute insecurity. The UN formed a food-security task force in April 2008 and held a Rome summit later that year. In 2025, EU farm-subsidy changes lift fruit prices, reviving supply-chain worries.

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UN Hunger Decline

The United Nations reported global hunger fell to 645 million people in 2025.
Africa has 309 million undernourished people and the highest share of the 2.69 billion who cannot afford a healthy diet.
A healthy diet cost $4.28 per day in 2025, up from $3.44 in 2021.
Child stunting affects 150 million under-fives while adult obesity hit 16.2 percent in 2024.
Authors warn Strait of Hormuz disruptions and a strong El Niño could raise food costs.

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