An estimated 2.4 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022. That year, hunger affected 203 million more people than in 2019, while 30.8% of children under five were overweight globally.
Key Takeaways
- 9.2% of the world population faced hunger in 2022 (203 million more than in 2019), per FAO/IFAD/UNICEF/WFP/WHO estimates
- The 2023 Global Hunger Index reported a global GHI score of 18.2, indicating serious hunger at the world level
- In 2022–2023, 18.5 million people in 4 countries were estimated to face “acute food insecurity” due to rising food prices and conflict (IPC/CH analysis aggregated in global briefing)
- The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 128.2 points in 2023 (annual average)
- Food inflation remained elevated: global food prices increased by 22.5% year-on-year in April 2022 (FAO Food Price Index, monthly change referenced in FAO reports)
- 30.8% of children under 5 were overweight globally in 2022 (UNICEF/WHO/World Bank/UN IGME estimates)
- 31% of the global population faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022 (FAO SOFI 2023 figures)
- Approximately 2.4 billion people lack access to adequate food (measured as moderate or severe food insecurity) in 2022—FAO estimate
- Global food supply chain disruption index indicated elevated disruptions in 2022, with freight rates increasing sharply; the Drewry World Container Index averaged $7,332 per 40-foot container in 2021 and peaked above $10,000 in 2022 (Drewry weekly/annual reporting)
- Food waste at the retail and consumer level amounts to 17% of food available for consumption, per FAO (global food loss/waste estimate)
- In 2022/23, global maize (corn) trade was 182.6 million tonnes (USDA FAS PS&D estimate for marketing year 2022/23)
- In 2023, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) estimated that 79% of global food is produced by small farms, affecting supply resilience and food security outcomes
- Small farms account for 35% of agricultural output globally, per FAO/IFAD smallholder synthesis cited in FAO documents
- About 40% of the world’s food is produced by farms smaller than 2 hectares, per FAO
- UNICEF supported nutrition services to 54.6 million children and 9.6 million women in 2023 through its programs (UNICEF Annual Report 2023 indicators)
In 2022, hunger surged worldwide, with billions lacking adequate food as conflict and rising prices hit poorest families.
Related reading
01 · Category
Global Hunger2 stats
01
9.2% of the world population faced hunger in 2022 (203 million more than in 2019), per FAO/IFAD/UNICEF/WFP/WHO estimates
02
The 2023 Global Hunger Index reported a global GHI score of 18.2, indicating serious hunger at the world level
Interpretation
Global Hunger Interpretation
In the Global Hunger category, 9.2% of the world population faced hunger in 2022, with 203 million more people than in 2019, and the 2023 Global Hunger Index’s serious level of 18.2 shows that hunger remains a growing and persistent challenge at the global scale.
02 · Category
Price & Volatility3 stats
01
In 2022–2023, 18.5 million people in 4 countries were estimated to face “acute food insecurity” due to rising food prices and conflict (IPC/CH analysis aggregated in global briefing)
02
The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 128.2 points in 2023 (annual average)
03
Food inflation remained elevated: global food prices increased by 22.5% year-on-year in April 2022 (FAO Food Price Index, monthly change referenced in FAO reports)
Interpretation
Price & Volatility Interpretation
In the Price and Volatility angle, evidence shows that price shocks were severe and persistent, with 18.5 million people in four countries facing acute food insecurity in 2022–2023 due to rising food prices, while global food prices still climbed 22.5% year on year by April 2022 and the FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 128.2 points in 2023.
03 · Category
Malnutrition1 stats
01
30.8% of children under 5 were overweight globally in 2022 (UNICEF/WHO/World Bank/UN IGME estimates)
Interpretation
Malnutrition Interpretation
In 2022, 30.8% of children under 5 were overweight globally, underscoring that malnutrition includes overnutrition as well as undernutrition.
04 · Category
Food Access2 stats
01
31% of the global population faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022 (FAO SOFI 2023 figures)
02
Approximately 2.4 billion people lack access to adequate food (measured as moderate or severe food insecurity) in 2022—FAO estimate
Interpretation
Food Access Interpretation
In 2022, about 31% of the world’s population lacked reliable Food Access as measured by moderate or severe food insecurity, translating to roughly 2.4 billion people who could not access adequate food.
05 · Category
Supply Chains3 stats
01
Global food supply chain disruption index indicated elevated disruptions in 2022, with freight rates increasing sharply; the Drewry World Container Index averaged $7,332per 40-foot container in 2021 and peaked above $10,000 in 2022 (Drewry weekly/annual reporting)
02
Food waste at the retail and consumer level amounts to 17% of food available for consumption, per FAO (global food loss/waste estimate)
03
In 2022/23, global maize (corn) trade was 182.6 million tonnes (USDA FAS PS&D estimate for marketing year 2022/23)
Interpretation
Supply Chains Interpretation
The supply chain picture shows mounting stress and inefficiency at the same time, with 2022 freight rates driving sharply higher disruptions, 17% of food lost at retail and consumer levels, and global maize trade reaching 182.6 million tonnes in 2022/23, suggesting demand is moving but not traveling through the chain efficiently.
06 · Category
Smallholder Systems4 stats
01
In 2023, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) estimated that 79% of global food is produced by small farms, affecting supply resilience and food security outcomes
02
Small farms account for 35% of agricultural output globally, per FAO/IFAD smallholder synthesis cited in FAO documents
03
About 40% of the world’s food is produced by farms smaller than 2 hectares, per FAO
04
Smallholders in developing countries typically account for 80% of food producers while operating limited land and facing constraints (FAO smallholder statistics)
Interpretation
Smallholder Systems Interpretation
For the Smallholder Systems category, the key trend is that small farms produce the bulk of the world’s food, with 79% produced by small farms in 2023 and around 40% coming from farms under 2 hectares, even though smallholders in developing countries often make up about 80% of producers while working with limited land and facing major constraints.
More related reading
07 · Category
Resilience & Nutrition Governance2 stats
01
UNICEF supported nutrition services to 54.6 million children and 9.6 million women in 2023 through its programs (UNICEF Annual Report 2023 indicators)
02
WHO estimates 45.0 million children under 5 were affected by wasting in 2022 (wasting as a form of acute malnutrition)
Interpretation
Resilience & Nutrition Governance Interpretation
In the resilience and nutrition governance area, UNICEF’s 2023 support reached 54.6 million children and 9.6 million women with nutrition services, while WHO estimates that 45.0 million children under 5 were affected by wasting in 2022, underscoring the scale of the systems that governance must strengthen to prevent acute malnutrition.
08 · Category
Trade & Production3 stats
01
112.5 million metric tonnes of cereals were traded globally in 2022 (volume of global cereal trade relevant to availability).
02
18.2 million metric tonnes of durum wheat were produced worldwide in 2022 (production volume relevant to pasta/semolina supply).
03
1.57 billion people (about 21% of the global population) rely on food from fisheries and aquaculture for their nutrition (protein/food security exposure).
Interpretation
Trade & Production Interpretation
In the Trade and Production category, global cereal trade reached 112.5 million metric tonnes in 2022 while durum wheat production totaled 18.2 million metric tonnes, and with 1.57 billion people depending on fisheries and aquaculture for nutrition, food security is clearly being shaped by both staple grain flows and broader production systems.
09 · Category
Climate & Shocks3 stats
01
10.0% of global greenhouse-gas emissions come from agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU); land-use emissions contribute to climate risk for food security systems.
02
2,305 km² of cropland were lost annually in sub-Saharan Africa on average (1990–2019 trend; land constraint relevant to food security).
03
3.0°C is projected as the likely increase by 2100 under current policies (baseline climate risk for future food security).
Interpretation
Climate & Shocks Interpretation
With climate risk projected to rise by about 3.0°C by 2100 and global land-use emissions from AFOLU accounting for 10.0% of greenhouse gases, the “Climate and Shocks” pressure on food security is amplified further by the average loss of 2,305 km² of cropland each year in sub-Saharan Africa.
10 · Category
Health & Nutrition3 stats
01
149 million children under 5 are estimated to be stunted worldwide (chronic undernutrition linked to food security and health).
02
4.5 million people died in 2019 due to dietary risk factors globally (undernutrition and diet quality; food security linkage).
03
113.0 million people in 2022 were estimated to be at risk of acute malnutrition in the Sahel (seasonal food insecurity and health system stress).
Interpretation
Health & Nutrition Interpretation
For the Health and Nutrition side of food security, the scale of malnutrition remains massive, with 149 million children under 5 stunted worldwide and 113.0 million people at risk of acute malnutrition in the Sahel in 2022, while 4.5 million deaths in 2019 were linked to dietary risk factors globally.
11 · Category
Aid & Policy5 stats
01
USD 79.5 million was the 2023 FAO funding gap for hunger-related programs in the Near East and North Africa region (regional aid shortfall affecting food security response).
02
13 countries reported cereal export restrictions affecting markets during 2022–2023 (policy-driven availability shocks relevant to food security).
03
USD 8.1 billion of the 2023 humanitarian appeal was reported as funded for food-related interventions (funding coverage affecting timely delivery).
04
23% of global governments’ agricultural spending in 2021 was directed toward productivity-enhancing measures (policy allocation influencing food production capacity).
05
EUR 10.5 billion was allocated by the EU in 2021–2027 for food security and sustainable agriculture under Global Europe (policy financing lever).
Interpretation
Aid & Policy Interpretation
In the Aid & Policy sphere, funding and policy decisions are materially shaping food security outcomes, with gaps like a USD 79.5 million shortfall in 2023 and only 23% of governments’ agricultural spending in 2021 going to productivity measures, even as the EU committed EUR 10.5 billion for food security and sustainable agriculture and humanitarian funding reached USD 8.1 billion for food-related interventions in 2023.
report visual · Comparison
Food insecurity is widespread—acute hunger is rising
A substantial share of the global population faces food insecurity, while acute food insecurity estimates show pressure from prices and conflict.
In 2022–2023, 18.5 million people in 4 countries were estimated to face “acute food insecurity” due to rising food price2022
31% of the global population faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022 (FAO SOFI 2023 figures)
31%
9.2% of the world population faced hunger in 2022 (203 million more than in 2019), per FAO/IFAD/UNICEF/WFP/WHO estimates
9.2%
source-verifiedfao.org · ipcinfo.org2022
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Food Security Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/food-security-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Food Security Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/food-security-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Food Security Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/food-security-statistics.
Sources & references
31 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+13 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)