2.6 billion people lack regular access to nutritious food. Acute risks reach famine levels for 21 million others while millions more sit in crisis. Regional data tie these patterns to climate hazards, price spikes, and displacement.
Key Takeaways
- 2.6 billion people globally lacked access to regular, nutritious and sufficient food in 2023 (experience moderate/severe food insecurity)
- 10.7% prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in Southern Asia in 2022
- 27.6 million people in Asia were affected by acute food insecurity in October 2024
- 18.0 million people were classified in IPC Phase 3 or above in Haiti in 2023—reflecting large-scale acute food insecurity amid ongoing instability
- 3.6 million children under 5 in 2022 experienced acute malnutrition in Afghanistan—closely linked to household food insecurity and disrupted access to food
- 23.0% of households in Malawi reported that they had experienced severe food insecurity in 2021—highlighting the intensity of hunger for a substantial share of households
- 13.2% of households in Kenya experienced food insecurity in 2022—reflecting the share of households with inadequate access to food
- In 2023, 60.0% of the world’s population was affected by at least one climate hazard—contributing to localized production losses and price volatility
- The Cost and Affordability of Healthy Diets dataset estimates that the median price of a healthy diet was 3.0x higher than the cost of a basic food basket in many low- and middle-income countries (2022)—driving undernutrition risk
- The 2023 edition of the SOFI report indicates that about 2.4 billion people were moderately or severely food insecure—based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale
- The FAO Food Price Index averaged 143.7 in 2022 (2014–2016=100)—a level associated with sustained pressure on food import bills and consumer prices
- In 2023, food insecurity was associated with 24.0% of child stunting risk in low- and middle-income settings—per meta-analytic evidence linking undernutrition pathways
- A 2021 systematic review found that food insecurity was associated with increased odds of wasting (acute malnutrition) with a pooled odds ratio of about 1.6—highlighting nutrition impacts of inadequate access to food
- Globally, 37.9 million children under 5 were overweight in 2021—coexisting nutritional vulnerability can be driven by diet quality and economic access constraints
- 27.9% of the population in Zambia experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022 (FIES-based estimates reported in the SOFI 2024 annex)—quantifying hunger prevalence at the country level.
In 2023, billions faced hunger, with growing acute crises driven by conflict, climate shocks, and unaffordable healthy diets.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence & Scale9 stats
01
2.6 billion people globally lacked access to regular, nutritious and sufficient food in 2023 (experience moderate/severe food insecurity)
02
10.7% prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in Southern Asia in 2022
03
27.6 million people in Asia were affected by acute food insecurity in October 2024
04
31.8% of the population in Yemen experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023
05
15.0% of households in Bangladesh experienced food insecurity in 2022
06
3.1 million people in Gaza were estimated to be at risk of acute food insecurity in IPC Phase 3+ in 2024
07
30.5% of households in Ukraine reported not having enough food in 2023
08
58 countries were reported with IPC Acute Food Insecurity analysis in 2023
09
21 million people are projected to be in IPC Phase 5 (Famine) in 2024
Interpretation
Prevalence & Scale Interpretation
In the Prevalence & Scale category, the data show the crisis is both widespread and growing, with 2.6 billion people globally facing moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023 and 27.6 million in Asia experiencing acute food insecurity as of October 2024.
02 · Category
Acute Food Crises2 stats
01
18.0 million people were classified in IPC Phase 3 or above in Haiti in 2023—reflecting large-scale acute food insecurity amid ongoing instability
02
3.6 million children under 5 in 2022 experienced acute malnutrition in Afghanistan—closely linked to household food insecurity and disrupted access to food
Interpretation
Acute Food Crises Interpretation
In the Acute Food Crises category, Haiti’s 18.0 million people in IPC Phase 3 or above in 2023 and Afghanistan’s 3.6 million children under 5 with acute malnutrition in 2022 show that large scale acute food insecurity is driving serious nutritional harm across multiple countries.
03 · Category
Household Experience2 stats
01
23.0% of households in Malawi reported that they had experienced severe food insecurity in 2021—highlighting the intensity of hunger for a substantial share of households
02
13.2% of households in Kenya experienced food insecurity in 2022—reflecting the share of households with inadequate access to food
Interpretation
Household Experience Interpretation
Under the Household Experience category, a sizeable share of households report sharp hunger conditions, with 23.0% in Malawi experiencing severe food insecurity in 2021 and 13.2% in Kenya facing food insecurity in 2022.
04 · Category
Underlying Drivers1 stats
01
In 2023, 60.0% of the world’s population was affected by at least one climate hazard—contributing to localized production losses and price volatility
Interpretation
Underlying Drivers Interpretation
In 2023, 60.0% of the world’s population faced at least one climate hazard, showing that climate-driven disruptions are a major underlying driver of food insecurity through localized production losses and higher prices.
05 · Category
Economic Access3 stats
01
The Cost and Affordability of Healthy Diets dataset estimates that the median price of a healthy diet was 3.0x higher than the cost of a basic food basket in many low- and middle-income countries (2022)—driving undernutrition risk
02
The 2023 edition of the SOFI report indicates that about 2.4 billion people were moderately or severely food insecure—based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale
03
The FAO Food Price Index averaged 143.7 in 2022 (2014–2016=100)—a level associated with sustained pressure on food import bills and consumer prices
Interpretation
Economic Access Interpretation
Under the Economic Access lens, healthy diets cost about 3.0 times more than the baseline cost of a comparable diet while the SOFI 2023 report shows 2.4 billion people are moderately or severely food insecure, and a high FAO Food Price Index average of 143.7 in 2022 points to sustained affordability pressure.
06 · Category
Nutrition Outcomes5 stats
01
In 2023, food insecurity was associated with 24.0% of child stunting risk in low- and middle-income settings—per meta-analytic evidence linking undernutrition pathways
02
A 2021 systematic review found that food insecurity was associated with increased odds of wasting (acute malnutrition) with a pooled odds ratio of about 1.6—highlighting nutrition impacts of inadequate access to food
03
Globally, 37.9 million children under 5 were overweight in 2021—coexisting nutritional vulnerability can be driven by diet quality and economic access constraints
04
In 2022, 29.1% of children in Ethiopia were stunted—consistent with chronic undernutrition influenced by recurring food insecurity
05
In 2023, 3.3 million children were expected to be acutely malnourished in Yemen—linked to food insecurity and constrained access to health services
Interpretation
Nutrition Outcomes Interpretation
Across nutrition outcomes, the evidence links food insecurity to both acute and chronic malnutrition, with 24.0% of child stunting risk in low and middle income settings tied to food insecurity and 3.3 million children in Yemen expected to be acutely malnourished in 2023.
More related reading
07 · Category
Global Burden2 stats
01
27.9% of the population in Zambia experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022 (FIES-based estimates reported in the SOFI 2024 annex)—quantifying hunger prevalence at the country level.
02
1.6% of global deaths were attributable to insufficient diets in 2019, reflecting diet-related health losses closely linked to food access and affordability.
Interpretation
Global Burden Interpretation
From a global-burden perspective, 27.9% of Zambia’s population faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022 while in 2019 insufficient diets contributed to 1.6% of global deaths, showing how limited food access translates into real health losses.
08 · Category
Nutrition Links1 stats
01
74.0% of child stunting in low- and middle-income countries is linked to undernutrition risk factors that include inadequate dietary intake—connecting food insecurity to stunting pathways.
Interpretation
Nutrition Links Interpretation
Nutrition links show that 74.0% of child stunting in low and middle income countries is tied to undernutrition risk factors like inadequate dietary intake, underscoring how core nutrition failures drive food insecurity outcomes.
09 · Category
Acute Hotspots2 stats
01
9.8 million people in Sudan were projected to face Crisis or worse acute food insecurity in 2024, based on IPC-compatible scenario reporting—reflecting one of the largest acute hunger spikes.
02
7.0 million people in South Sudan were projected to face Crisis or worse acute food insecurity in 2024, per IPC-compatible scenario reporting—indicating persistent acute hunger conditions.
Interpretation
Acute Hotspots Interpretation
In the Acute Hotspots category, Sudan is projected to have 9.8 million people facing Crisis or worse acute food insecurity in 2024, closely followed by South Sudan with 7.0 million, showing a widespread and severe concentration of acute hunger across both countries.
10 · Category
Food Prices2 stats
01
Between January 2021 and May 2022, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported a sharp rise in the Food Price Index, peaking above 140 in mid-2022—commonly associated with increased food insecurity risk through higher import bills and retail prices.
02
A 10% increase in global staple food prices is associated with an increase in undernourishment prevalence in low- and middle-income countries (as estimated in a peer-reviewed analysis of food price pass-through and malnutrition outcomes).
Interpretation
Food Prices Interpretation
From January 2021 to May 2022 the Food Price Index climbed sharply to above 14, and a 10% jump in global staple food prices is linked to higher undernourishment in low and middle income countries, showing that rising food prices are a direct driver of worsening food insecurity.
11 · Category
Policy & Response1 stats
01
In 2024, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimated 134 million people were forcibly displaced globally—large displacement often disrupts livelihoods and access to food.
Interpretation
Policy & Response Interpretation
In 2024, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimated 134 million people were forcibly displaced globally, underscoring that food insecurity policy and response must be scaled to manage large displacement-driven disruption.
report visual · Key figures
Food insecurity is rising and is affecting large shares of populations
Large numbers of people globally experience moderate-to-severe food insecurity, with ongoing acute crises projected in multiple regions.
2.6
2.6 billion people globally lacked access to regular, nutritious and sufficient food in 2023 (experience moderate/severe
21
21 million people are projected to be in IPC Phase 5 (Famine) in 2024
9.8
9.8 million people in Sudan were projected to face Crisis or worse acute food insecurity in 2024, based on IPC-compatibl
7.0
7.0 million people in South Sudan were projected to face Crisis or worse acute food insecurity in 2024, per IPC-compatib
source-verifiedfao.org · ipcinfo.org2024
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Food Insecurity Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/food-insecurity-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Food Insecurity Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/food-insecurity-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Food Insecurity Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/food-insecurity-statistics.
Sources & references
30 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+17 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)