This page maps famine risk across causes and consequences—how conflict, drought-related water stress, and market disruption can push people toward acute hunger. Using severity frameworks such as IPC and Cadre Harmonisé, it tracks where outcomes move from Crisis toward famine-like conditions. You’ll also find indicators on severe wasting and severe acute malnutrition, alongside how displacement and humanitarian funding gaps affect aid delivery and exposure.
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).
Severe acute food insecurity and malnutrition are spreading across multiple regions, with major funding gaps worsening the crisis.
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
Global Hunger remains concentrated and worsening in 2024 with 57.0% of countries experiencing IPC-identified acute food insecurity located in sub-Saharan Africa while millions of children and displaced people are facing severe malnutrition or emergency hunger levels, including 6 million children under 5 with severe wasting in 2023 and 5.6 million people in the Greater Horn expected to face emergency acute food insecurity in 2024.
02 · Category
Famine Incidence15 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.
10
42.3 million people were projected to face emergency (IPC Phase 4) or worse acute food insecurity in South Sudan in 2024
11
6.8 million people in Somalia were estimated to face emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity in 2024
12
25.4 million people in Ethiopia were projected to face acute food insecurity at IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or above in 2024
13
3.5 million people in Haiti were classified in IPC Phase 3 or above for acute food insecurity in 2024
14
2.7 million people in Madagascar were estimated to be in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse for acute food insecurity in 2024
15
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
Interpretation
Famine Incidence Interpretation
Under the Famine Incidence framing, the data shows that millions of people are still projected to be in emergency level acute food insecurity across multiple countries in 2024, including 42.3 million in South Sudan and 6.8 million in Somalia, with similar severity also flagged in Ethiopia and Haiti.
report visual · Key figures
Famine Incidence (IPC 4+): People Facing Emergency or Worse Acute Food Insecurity, 2024
In 2024, South Sudan has the largest projected count of people facing emergency (IPC Phase 4) or worse acute food insecurity, leading the other countries in this set by a wide marg
42.3 million
42.3 million people were projected to face emergency (IPC Phase 4) or worse acute food insecurity in South Sudan in 2024
25.4 million
25.4 million people in Ethiopia were projected to face acute food insecurity at IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or above in 2024
6.8 million
6.8 million people in Somalia were estimated to face emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity in 2024
3.5 million
3.5 million people in Haiti were classified in IPC Phase 3 or above for acute food insecurity in 2024
2.7 million
2.7 million people in Madagascar were estimated to be in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse for acute food insecurity in 2024
134,000
134,000 people (about 5% of the population) were estimated to be facing emergency (IPC Phase 4) or worse food insecurity
source-verifiedipcinfo.org2024
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
Early Warning and Detection is anchored by IPC and Cadre Harmonisé severity scales that flag famine-like conditions at Phase 5, while the low 2.4% average ODA in 2023 from OECD DAC donors below the 0.7% target suggests fewer resources to turn these early signals into timely response planning.
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 impacts from wasting are severe and persistent, with an estimated 828,000 children under 5 dying directly from wasting in 2020 and a further 2.3 million deaths estimated in 2022, alongside millions of children facing severe wasting or high mortality risk.
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
Under Supply Chain & Access pressures, drought-related water scarcity affects 30% of Somalia’s population in severe seasons and global food losses reach 7% during distribution, showing how both access constraints and supply chain breakdowns 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
In the Policy & Finance sphere, humanitarian planning is being squeezed by a US$15.5 billion funding gap in 2024, even as global wheat prices jumped to 33% above baseline in parts of 2022 and policy tools like sanctions exemptions are being used to keep aid flowing.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
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
38 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+27 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)