Full Breakdown
One in Three People Cannot Afford a Healthy Diet, UN Report Shows
7/22/2026, 12:15:56 PM
Core Findings of the 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition Report
The United Nations’ *State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World* 2026 report estimates that 2.69 billion people—about one-third of the global population—cannot afford a diet that meets minimum energy and nutrient requirements. The cost of such a diet is $4.28 PPP dollars per day.
Global hunger fell to 7.8 % (?645 million people) in 2025, down from 8.1 % in 2024. Africa still has the largest number of undernourished people (?309 million) and the highest share unable to afford a healthy diet (66.1 %).
Background and Context
The 2026 assessment follows three years of declining undernourishment, driven largely by gains in Asia and improvements in Latin America and the Caribbean. However, the cost of a healthy diet rose by almost 25 % since 2021, from $3.44 PPP to $4.28 PPP per day, while the number of people unable to afford such diets fell only modestly from 2.97 billion in 2021 to 2.69 billion in 2025.
Geopolitical tensions, especially disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and climate-related shocks are identified as emerging risks that could reverse recent gains.
Data and Statistics
- 2.69 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet.
- Cost of a healthy diet: $4.28 PPP/day.
- 66.1 % of Africans lack the income to meet this cost.
- Global undernourishment: 645 million people (7.8 % of world population) in 2025.
- Hunger in Africa: 309 million people.
Official Statements & Responses
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, called healthy diets “the foundation of health” and urged policies that make nutritious foods the easy choice, such as front-of-pack labeling and taxes on unhealthy products.
Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD, urged stakeholders to translate the report’s evidence into investments that strengthen value chains, market systems, and rural economies.
Why It Matters
The affordability gap creates a “triple burden” of malnutrition: chronic undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and diet-related non-communicable diseases. Rising adult obesity alongside persistent child stunting signals long-term health costs and reduced labor productivity.
Disruptions to global fertilizer markets—exacerbated by the Hormuz conflict—are projected to raise food prices, hitting low-income regions that spend a larger share of household income on food.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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, senior lecturer, University of Edinburgh
What’s Next
The report warns that, if current risks are not mitigated, global undernourishment could rise by 8 million to 19 million people by 2030 due to prolonged Hormuz-related disruptions, especially in Asia and Africa. UN experts call for coordinated investment in agricultural resilience, trade policies that dampen price volatility, and social protection systems to shield the poorest households from commodity market fluctuations.
