Food Security Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Food Security Statistics

With 31% of people facing moderate or severe food insecurity, the page puts a spotlight on how rising prices and conflict can tip food access into crisis. It also connects hunger to everything from supply shocks and waste to small farm limits, including 54.6 million children and 9.6 million women supported by UNICEF nutrition services in 2023.

31 statistics31 sources11 sections8 min readUpdated 13 days ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

9.2% of the world population faced hunger in 2022 (203 million more than in 2019), per FAO/IFAD/UNICEF/WFP/WHO estimates

Statistic 2

The 2023 Global Hunger Index reported a global GHI score of 18.2, indicating serious hunger at the world level

Statistic 3

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)

Statistic 4

The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 128.2 points in 2023 (annual average)

Statistic 5

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)

Statistic 6

30.8% of children under 5 were overweight globally in 2022 (UNICEF/WHO/World Bank/UN IGME estimates)

Statistic 7

31% of the global population faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022 (FAO SOFI 2023 figures)

Statistic 8

Approximately 2.4 billion people lack access to adequate food (measured as moderate or severe food insecurity) in 2022—FAO estimate

Statistic 9

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)

Statistic 10

Food waste at the retail and consumer level amounts to 17% of food available for consumption, per FAO (global food loss/waste estimate)

Statistic 11

In 2022/23, global maize (corn) trade was 182.6 million tonnes (USDA FAS PS&D estimate for marketing year 2022/23)

Statistic 12

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

Statistic 13

Small farms account for 35% of agricultural output globally, per FAO/IFAD smallholder synthesis cited in FAO documents

Statistic 14

About 40% of the world’s food is produced by farms smaller than 2 hectares, per FAO

Statistic 15

Smallholders in developing countries typically account for 80% of food producers while operating limited land and facing constraints (FAO smallholder statistics)

Statistic 16

UNICEF supported nutrition services to 54.6 million children and 9.6 million women in 2023 through its programs (UNICEF Annual Report 2023 indicators)

Statistic 17

WHO estimates 45.0 million children under 5 were affected by wasting in 2022 (wasting as a form of acute malnutrition)

Statistic 18

112.5 million metric tonnes of cereals were traded globally in 2022 (volume of global cereal trade relevant to availability).

Statistic 19

18.2 million metric tonnes of durum wheat were produced worldwide in 2022 (production volume relevant to pasta/semolina supply).

Statistic 20

1.57 billion people (about 21% of the global population) rely on food from fisheries and aquaculture for their nutrition (protein/food security exposure).

Statistic 21

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.

Statistic 22

2,305 km² of cropland were lost annually in sub-Saharan Africa on average (1990–2019 trend; land constraint relevant to food security).

Statistic 23

3.0°C is projected as the likely increase by 2100 under current policies (baseline climate risk for future food security).

Statistic 24

149 million children under 5 are estimated to be stunted worldwide (chronic undernutrition linked to food security and health).

Statistic 25

4.5 million people died in 2019 due to dietary risk factors globally (undernutrition and diet quality; food security linkage).

Statistic 26

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).

Statistic 27

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).

Statistic 28

13 countries reported cereal export restrictions affecting markets during 2022–2023 (policy-driven availability shocks relevant to food security).

Statistic 29

USD 8.1 billion of the 2023 humanitarian appeal was reported as funded for food-related interventions (funding coverage affecting timely delivery).

Statistic 30

23% of global governments’ agricultural spending in 2021 was directed toward productivity-enhancing measures (policy allocation influencing food production capacity).

Statistic 31

EUR 10.5 billion was allocated by the EU in 2021–2027 for food security and sustainable agriculture under Global Europe (policy financing lever).

Sources
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Isabelle Moreau

Written by Isabelle Moreau·Edited by Margot Villeneuve·Fact-checked by Nicholas Chambers

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 12, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

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Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

The most recent hunger snapshot is sobering: 9.2% of the world population faced hunger in 2022, and the number of people affected rose by 203 million compared with 2019. At the same time, children are experiencing a very different nutrition reality as 30.8% of under 5s are overweight globally, highlighting how food security risks can shift even when food is physically present. This post pulls together the key figures that link conflict, prices, supply chains, and wasted food to what people can actually eat and absorb.

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

Global Hunger

19.2% of the world population faced hunger in 2022 (203 million more than in 2019), per FAO/IFAD/UNICEF/WFP/WHO estimates[1]
Verified
2The 2023 Global Hunger Index reported a global GHI score of 18.2, indicating serious hunger at the world level[2]
Verified

Global Hunger Interpretation

In the Global Hunger category, hunger reached 9.2% of the world population in 2022, affecting 203 million more people than in 2019, and the 2023 Global Hunger Index’s serious score of 18.2 shows that the world’s hunger problem is worsening rather than improving.

Price & Volatility

1In 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)[3]
Verified
2The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 128.2 points in 2023 (annual average)[4]
Verified
3Food 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)[5]
Single source

Price & Volatility Interpretation

In the Price and Volatility area, rising prices are clearly driving hardship with 18.5 million people across four countries facing acute food insecurity in 2022 to 2023, while the FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 128.2 in 2023 and global food prices were still up 22.5% year on year in April 2022.

More related reading

Malnutrition

130.8% of children under 5 were overweight globally in 2022 (UNICEF/WHO/World Bank/UN IGME estimates)[6]
Verified

Malnutrition Interpretation

In 2022, 30.8% of children under 5 were overweight globally, underscoring that malnutrition includes a significant share of children facing excess weight alongside traditional undernutrition.

Food Access

131% of the global population faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022 (FAO SOFI 2023 figures)[7]
Verified
2Approximately 2.4 billion people lack access to adequate food (measured as moderate or severe food insecurity) in 2022—FAO estimate[8]
Verified

Food Access Interpretation

In 2022, 31% of the global population, or about 2.4 billion people, lived with moderate or severe food insecurity, showing that food access remains a major and widespread barrier.

More related reading

Supply Chains

1Global 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)[9]
Verified
2Food waste at the retail and consumer level amounts to 17% of food available for consumption, per FAO (global food loss/waste estimate)[10]
Directional
3In 2022/23, global maize (corn) trade was 182.6 million tonnes (USDA FAS PS&D estimate for marketing year 2022/23)[11]
Directional

Supply Chains Interpretation

The supply chain pressure is evident as freight rates surged from an average of $7,332 per 40-foot container in 2021 to over $10,000 in 2022, while global maize trade still reached 182.6 million tonnes in 2022/23, meaning disruption risk can rise even as key staple flows remain large.

Smallholder Systems

1In 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[12]
Verified
2Small farms account for 35% of agricultural output globally, per FAO/IFAD smallholder synthesis cited in FAO documents[13]
Verified
3About 40% of the world’s food is produced by farms smaller than 2 hectares, per FAO[14]
Verified
4Smallholders in developing countries typically account for 80% of food producers while operating limited land and facing constraints (FAO smallholder statistics)[15]
Verified

Smallholder Systems Interpretation

For Smallholder Systems, the key trend is that small farms produce the bulk of food worldwide, with 79% produced by small farms in 2023 and around 40% coming from land under 2 hectares, meaning resilience and food security depend heavily on the millions of smallholders often constrained by limited land.

Resilience & Nutrition Governance

1UNICEF supported nutrition services to 54.6 million children and 9.6 million women in 2023 through its programs (UNICEF Annual Report 2023 indicators)[16]
Single source
2WHO estimates 45.0 million children under 5 were affected by wasting in 2022 (wasting as a form of acute malnutrition)[17]
Verified

Resilience & Nutrition Governance Interpretation

UNICEF’s 54.6 million children and 9.6 million women reached with nutrition services in 2023, alongside WHO’s estimate of 45.0 million under 5s affected by wasting in 2022, underscores the urgency for stronger Resilience and Nutrition Governance to scale coverage while addressing acute malnutrition at speed.

More related reading

Trade & Production

1112.5 million metric tonnes of cereals were traded globally in 2022 (volume of global cereal trade relevant to availability).[18]
Verified
218.2 million metric tonnes of durum wheat were produced worldwide in 2022 (production volume relevant to pasta/semolina supply).[19]
Verified
31.57 billion people (about 21% of the global population) rely on food from fisheries and aquaculture for their nutrition (protein/food security exposure).[20]
Verified

Trade & Production Interpretation

In the Trade and Production landscape, 112.5 million metric tonnes of cereals were traded globally in 2022 while durum wheat production reached 18.2 million metric tonnes, and the system of supply is further supported by fisheries and aquaculture that feed 1.57 billion people.

Climate & Shocks

110.0% 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.[21]
Verified
22,305 km² of cropland were lost annually in sub-Saharan Africa on average (1990–2019 trend; land constraint relevant to food security).[22]
Verified
33.0°C is projected as the likely increase by 2100 under current policies (baseline climate risk for future food security).[23]
Single source

Climate & Shocks Interpretation

Under the Climate and Shocks lens, rising climate risks are already visible as agriculture, forestry, and other land use account for 10.0% of global greenhouse gas emissions, cropland is shrinking in sub-Saharan Africa at 2,305 km² per year on average from 1990 to 2019, and current policies point to a 3.0°C temperature rise by 2100 that could further stress food security systems.

More related reading

Health & Nutrition

1149 million children under 5 are estimated to be stunted worldwide (chronic undernutrition linked to food security and health).[24]
Directional
24.5 million people died in 2019 due to dietary risk factors globally (undernutrition and diet quality; food security linkage).[25]
Verified
3113.0 million people in 2022 were estimated to be at risk of acute malnutrition in the Sahel (seasonal food insecurity and health system stress).[26]
Directional

Health & Nutrition Interpretation

In the Health and Nutrition lens of food security, 149 million children under 5 are stunted worldwide and 4.5 million people died globally in 2019 from dietary risk factors, while in 2022 an estimated 113.0 million people in the Sahel were at risk of acute malnutrition, showing a persistent and regionally concentrated crisis in nutrition outcomes.

Aid & Policy

1USD 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).[27]
Verified
213 countries reported cereal export restrictions affecting markets during 2022–2023 (policy-driven availability shocks relevant to food security).[28]
Verified
3USD 8.1 billion of the 2023 humanitarian appeal was reported as funded for food-related interventions (funding coverage affecting timely delivery).[29]
Verified
423% of global governments’ agricultural spending in 2021 was directed toward productivity-enhancing measures (policy allocation influencing food production capacity).[30]
Verified
5EUR 10.5 billion was allocated by the EU in 2021–2027 for food security and sustainable agriculture under Global Europe (policy financing lever).[31]
Verified

Aid & Policy Interpretation

Across Aid and Policy, financing and policy choices remain decisive as the 2023 FAO hunger funding gap reached USD 79.5 million in the Near East and North Africa while 13 countries imposed cereal export restrictions in 2022 to 2023, and EU policy support with EUR 10.5 billion for food security and sustainable agriculture under Global Europe could help offset such availability shocks.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

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Chicago
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