Full Breakdown
One-Third of the World Cannot Afford a Healthy Diet, UN Report Finds
7/22/2026, 5:13:30 AM
Core Findings of the 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition Report
The joint 2026 assessment by the FAO, WFP, UNICEF, IFAD and WHO shows 2.69 billion people—about 32.7 % of the global population—cannot afford a diet that meets basic energy and nutrient requirements. The cost of such a diet was $4.28 per day in PPP terms, up from $3.44 in 2021.
Background and Context
Undernourishment fell to an estimated 645 million people in 2025, but the share unable to purchase a nutritious diet remains “extremely high,” says FAO chief economist Maximo Torero. The gap is linked to subsidies that favour cereals, starchy staples, meat and animal feed, limited investment in fruit, vegetable and legume production, and supply-chain inefficiencies that keep nutrient-dense foods pricey.
Data and Statistics
- Cost of a healthy diet: $4.28 PPP per day in 2025 (up 24 % from 2021).
- Regional affordability gaps (2025):
- Africa: 1.03 billion people (? 66 %).
- Asia: 1.4 billion people (? 29 %).
- Latin America & Caribbean: 172 million people (? 26 %).
- Europe & North America: 77.5 million people (? 7 %).
- Obesity trends: Adult obesity rose from 12.1 % in 2012 to 16.2 % in 2024 (WHO).
Why It Matters
High diet costs intensify the “triple burden” of malnutrition: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and diet-related non-communicable diseases. In regions where food consumes 50-70 % of household income, modest price rises can push families into food insecurity, undermining progress toward SDG 2 (zero hunger).
Official Statements and Responses
- Maximo Torero emphasized that policies have traditionally subsidised calories rather than dietary diversity, driving obesity and related diseases.
- David Laborde noted that the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy continues to channel most subsidies to grain, sugar, dairy and animal-feed crops, making fruit, vegetable and legume production less attractive.
- European Commission spokesperson highlighted the “protein action plan,” which includes origin labelling, sustainability criteria in public procurement and awareness campaigns on pulses.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Europe has designed its farm subsidies for historical reasons that were very different [from] delivering a large amount of fruit and vegetables for its population,” — Laborde.
- “Supply and demand would tell you that if there is less supply entering the market for food commodities, then we’re going to see higher food prices,” — Peter Alexander, University of Edinburgh.
Policy Recommendations
The report urges reallocation of agricultural subsidies toward fruit, vegetable and legume production, greater investment in agricultural innovation to reduce labor costs, and supply-chain measures such as waste reduction, fertilizer support and price transparency. It also calls for expanded social-protection systems to shield the poorest households from volatile food prices.
Outlook
Projections indicate that, even under optimistic scenarios, global undernourishment will remain above 600 million people by 2030, well short of the zero-hunger target. The analysis warns that prolonged disruptions—such as the ongoing conflict affecting oil and fertilizer markets—could add 8-19 million more people to the chronic-hunger tally by decade’s end. Closing the affordability gap will require coordinated policy shifts in both high-income regions (e.g., reforming EU farm subsidies) and low-income regions (e.g., strengthening safety nets and resilient agricultural systems).
