The fight against global hunger shows signs of progress, but the journey is far from over. A recent report by five United Nations agencies reveals that while hunger levels have decreased for the third year in a row, the gains are fragile and unevenly distributed. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report for 2026, released on July 25, 2026, provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of food security and nutrition worldwide.
The report estimates that approximately 645 million people or 7.8% of the global population faced hunger in 2026. This marks a significant improvement from the 8.1% in 2026 and 8.6% in 2026 indicating a sustained, albeit slow, improvement. However, the progress is not uniform across all regions, and urgent action is needed to address the underlying issues.
Regional disparities in food security
The report highlights stark regional disparities in food security. While Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean have seen steady improvements, Africa remains the most affected continent. In 2026, 309 million people in Africa were undernourished, compared to 292 million in Asia. Although Africa’s hunger rate decreased slightly from 20.3% in 2026 to 20.0% in 2026 rapid population growth means the continent now has the highest number of hungry people in absolute terms.
Broader measures of food access paint a similar picture. In 2026, an estimated 2.1 billion people or 25.8% of the global population experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. This is a slight improvement from 27.1% in 2026 and 28.7% in 2026 but still above pre-pandemic levels. In Africa more than half the population (56.6%) faced moderate or severe food insecurity, compared to 20.3% in Asia22.9% in Latin America and the Caribbean and 8.7% in Northern America and Europe.
Geopolitical and climate risks
The report warns that geopolitical tensions and climate-related risks could threaten the progress made in food security. Máximo Torero, FAO Chief Economist highlighted concerns about disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz a key route for energy and agricultural inputs. Such disruptions drive up prices for fuel, fertilisers, and transportation, increasing food production costs worldwide.
Additionally, a potentially strong El Niño weather pattern could add further pressure by disrupting agricultural production in vulnerable regions. The report’s joint authors—FAOIFADUNICEFWFP and WHO—emphasize the need to keep food, energy, and agricultural input markets open, avoid export restrictions, and strengthen targeted social protection programs for vulnerable populations.
Nutrition targets and the cost of a healthy diet
The report also underscores the slow progress on global nutrition targets. Indicators such as child stunting, wasting, overweight, low birthweight, and exclusive breastfeeding show only marginal improvements. Anaemia among women aged 15 to 49 years is worsening, while the prevalence of adult obesity shows a steady increase—from 12.1% in 2012 to 16.2% in 2026.
The cost of a healthy diet remains a major constraint to achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). In 2026, the average global cost of a healthy diet rose to 4.28 purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars per person per day up from 3.44 PPP dollars in 2026 and 2.94 PPP dollars in 2017. Although the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet has declined—from 2.97 billion in 2026 to 2.69 billion in 2026—this trend masks significant regional disparities. In Africa66.6% of the population could not afford a healthy diet in 2026, more than double the levels observed in Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The report calls for context-specific investments in infrastructure, research and development, irrigation, and cold chains, alongside reforms in subsidies, trade facilitation, and regulatory systems. The authors emphasize that the work ahead is immense but necessary to build a world where a healthy diet is no longer out of reach for nearly one in three people.
