Six million children under five faced severe wasting in 2023. In 2024, acute food insecurity is projected for over 42 million people in South Sudan alone. This article details the IPC classification system and the global scale of famine risk.
Key Takeaways
- 57.0% of the countries where the IPC identified acute food insecurity for 2024 were in sub-Saharan Africa
- 6 million children under 5 were estimated to face severe wasting globally in 2023
- 1.7 million children were projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in Yemen (country estimates used in WFP/UN reporting for 2024)
- 134,000 people (about 5% of the population) were estimated to be facing emergency (IPC Phase 4) or worse food insecurity in Gaza in March–June 2024, according to IPC analysis.
- IPC country analysis indicates at least 10 countries were projecting Phase 3 or worse outcomes for parts of 2024, illustrating breadth of crisis risk.
- 42.3 million people were projected to face emergency (IPC Phase 4) or worse acute food insecurity in South Sudan in 2024, per IPC analysis.
- The “Cadre Harmonisé” (CH) classification system uses numeric phases 1 to 5 (with Phase 5 indicating famine-like conditions), underpinning Sahel and West Africa early warning and response triggers.
- 2.4% of global GDP was the average official development assistance (ODA) in 2023 from OECD DAC donors, below the 0.7% target—affecting resources available for famine prevention.
- IPC publishes 2 acute food insecurity phases (Phase 3 Crisis and above) thresholds that trigger response planning; the framework defines IPC Phase 5 as famine-like conditions.
- 828,000 deaths were estimated to be directly attributable to wasting in 2020 globally (children under 5), per The Lancet series on maternal and child nutrition.
- 2.3 million children under 5 were estimated to have died from wasting in 2022 globally (most recent GBD reporting on wasting-related under-5 deaths).
- 7.6 million children were estimated to be at high risk of mortality due to severe acute malnutrition in 2022 in the 12-month period covered by WHO/UNICEF/World Bank estimates.
- 30% of the population in Somalia is estimated to be affected by drought-related water scarcity during severe drought seasons, worsening access to food and nutrition.
- 7% of global food is lost during the distribution stage, according to FAO estimates embedded in its FLW database.
- Global wheat prices rose to a peak of 33% above baseline levels during parts of 2022 amid Russia-Ukraine-related disruptions (FAO Cereal Price Index change reported for 2022 peak).
In 2024, millions across Africa and Gaza faced emergency hunger and malnutrition, with needs outpacing humanitarian funding.
Related reading
01 · Category
Global Hunger5 stats
01
57.0% of the countries where the IPC identified acute food insecurity for 2024 were in sub-Saharan Africa
02
6 million children under 5 were estimated to face severe wasting globally in 2023
03
1.7 million children were projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in Yemen (country estimates used in WFP/UN reporting for 2024)
04
4.3 million people in Sudan were internally displaced by February 2024 (UNHCR), contributing to widespread food insecurity and famine risk
05
5.6 million people in the Greater Horn of Africa were projected to experience emergency levels of acute food insecurity in 2024 (IPC/CH projections compiled in regional reporting)
Interpretation
Global Hunger Interpretation
In the global hunger picture, the scale of crisis is stark, with 57.0% of countries facing acute food insecurity in 2024 concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa while millions of children and displaced people are projected or estimated to endure the most severe forms of undernutrition, such as 6 million severely wasted children in 2023 and 4.3 million people displaced in Sudan by February 2024.
02 · Category
Famine Incidence9 stats
01
134,000 people (about 5% of the population) were estimated to be facing emergency (IPC Phase 4) or worse food insecurity in Gaza in March–June 2024, according to IPC analysis.
02
IPC country analysis indicates at least 10 countries were projecting Phase 3 or worse outcomes for parts of 2024, illustrating breadth of crisis risk.
03
42.3 million people were projected to face emergency (IPC Phase 4) or worse acute food insecurity in South Sudan in 2024, per IPC analysis.
04
5.7 million people in Ethiopia were estimated to require emergency assistance due to severe acute food insecurity outcomes in 2024 (IPC Phase 4/5 levels), per IPC analysis.
05
6.8 million people in Somalia were estimated to face emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity in 2024, according to IPC analysis.
06
3.5 million people in Haiti were classified in IPC Phase 3 or above for acute food insecurity in 2024 (most recent period covered by IPC country analysis), indicating severe acute food insecurity needs.
07
2.7 million people in Madagascar were estimated to be in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse for acute food insecurity in 2024, based on IPC analysis.
08
15.1 million people in 2024 were estimated to face acute food insecurity at IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or above across Sudan, according to IPC analysis.
09
25.4 million people in 2024 were projected to face acute food insecurity at IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or above in Ethiopia, according to IPC analysis.
Interpretation
Famine Incidence Interpretation
In the “Famine Incidence” lens, the data show a wide and severe acute food insecurity footprint in 2024, with at least 42.3 million people in South Sudan and 25.4 million in Ethiopia projected to be in IPC Phase 4 or Crisis levels or worse, alongside smaller but critical high risk pockets like 134,000 people in Gaza facing emergency conditions in March to June 2024.
03 · Category
Early Warning & Detection5 stats
01
The “Cadre Harmonisé” (CH) classification system uses numeric phases 1 to 5 (with Phase 5 indicating famine-like conditions), underpinning Sahel and West Africa early warning and response triggers.
02
2.4% of global GDP was the average official development assistance (ODA) in 2023 from OECD DAC donors, below the 0.7% target—affecting resources available for famine prevention.
03
IPC publishes 2 acute food insecurity phases (Phase 3 Crisis and above) thresholds that trigger response planning; the framework defines IPC Phase 5 as famine-like conditions.
04
IPC uses comparable severity phases from 1 (Minimal) to 5 (Catastrophe/Famine), where IPC Phase 5 corresponds to famine-like conditions.
05
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification standard defines “Catastrophe/Famine” as IPC Phase 5, which is used for famine-related decision making.
Interpretation
Early Warning & Detection Interpretation
For Early Warning and Detection, the key trend is that only 2 acute IPC thresholds for Crisis and above trigger planning while IPC Phase 5, equated with Catastrophe or famine like conditions, must be reached, even as OECD DAC ODA averaged just 2.4% of global GDP in 2023, potentially limiting the resources available to act early.
More related reading
04 · Category
Mortality & Nutrition5 stats
01
828,000 deaths were estimated to be directly attributable to wasting in 2020 globally (children under 5), per The Lancet series on maternal and child nutrition.
02
2.3 million children under 5 were estimated to have died from wasting in 2022 globally (most recent GBD reporting on wasting-related under-5 deaths).
03
7.6 million children were estimated to be at high risk of mortality due to severe acute malnutrition in 2022 in the 12-month period covered by WHO/UNICEF/World Bank estimates.
04
8.2 million children were estimated to suffer from severe wasting globally in 2020 (IPC/UNICEF-aligned estimates referenced by WHO’s wasting burden reporting).
05
UNICEF reported that in 2023, 58 million children under 5 were affected by wasting globally (wasting indicator), indicating vulnerability to famine-related mortality risk.
Interpretation
Mortality & Nutrition Interpretation
Mortality and nutrition data show that severe wasting remains a major famine risk driver, with 2.3 million children under 5 estimated to have died from wasting in 2022 and an additional 7.6 million children at high risk of severe acute malnutrition within the same year.
05 · Category
Supply Chain & Access2 stats
01
30% of the population in Somalia is estimated to be affected by drought-related water scarcity during severe drought seasons, worsening access to food and nutrition.
02
7% of global food is lost during the distribution stage, according to FAO estimates embedded in its FLW database.
Interpretation
Supply Chain & Access Interpretation
In the Supply Chain and Access category, drought-related water scarcity affects an estimated 30% of Somalia’s population during severe seasons, while FAO data suggest that 7% of global food is lost at the distribution stage, showing how both access constraints and supply-chain losses can compound hunger risk.
06 · Category
Policy & Finance6 stats
01
Global wheat prices rose to a peak of 33% above baseline levels during parts of 2022 amid Russia-Ukraine-related disruptions (FAO Cereal Price Index change reported for 2022 peak).
02
US$51.0 billion was the global humanitarian funding requirement for 2024 (UN OCHA Global Humanitarian Overview).
03
US$35.5 billion was already funded as of a 2024 interim reporting cut, leaving a funding gap of US$15.5 billion for the humanitarian requirement.
04
The 2024 UN Security Council Resolution 2417 (adopted 2018) remains a key policy instrument requiring the protection of civilians and humanitarian access in conflict, but implementation varies; the resolution text is the basis for access requirements.
05
Resolution 2664 (adopted 2022) allows humanitarian exemptions to sanctions to facilitate aid delivery; it establishes the legal framework enabling authorizations.
06
WFP is a signatory to and uses the Global Food Security Strategy framework for SDG 2; the strategy calls for ending hunger by 2030 with measurable targets.
Interpretation
Policy & Finance Interpretation
With global humanitarian needs rising to US$51.0 billion for 2024 and only US$35.5 billion funded, the US$15.5 billion gap underscores how policy tools like sanctions exemptions and access-focused UN resolutions must translate into real financing to prevent famine from worsening as wheat prices spiked 33% above baseline in 2022.
Reference
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APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). Famine Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/famine-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Famine Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/famine-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Famine Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/famine-statistics.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+21 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)