With 828 million people undernourished in 2021, this post breaks down the most alarming hunger and malnutrition figures by year, region, and severity level to show how close the crisis is becoming for millions more.
Key Takeaways
- 828 million people were undernourished in 2021.
- 1 in 9 people in the world faced hunger in 2021.
- 3.1 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2019.
- In 2023, UNICEF reached 75 million children with nutrition services (UNICEF).
- In 2022, UNICEF supported the treatment of 9.5 million children for acute malnutrition.
- In 2022, 60 million children received vitamin A supplements through UNICEF-supported programs (UNICEF).
- 27.4% of people in developing countries do not have access to sufficient food (FAO).
- Micronutrient deficiencies affect about 2 billion people worldwide (WHO).
- Iron deficiency affects about 1.62 billion people globally (Global Burden of Disease).
- The global food import bill increased to $2.5 trillion in 2022 (WTO).
- Food prices increased by 23% between 2020 and 2021 (FAO Food Price Index).
- The FAO Food Price Index averaged 159.7 in 2022, up from 125.9 in 2020 (FAO).
- In South Sudan, 1.1 million people were estimated to be in IPC Phase 4 (emergency) or worse in 2022 (IPC).
- In Somalia, 1.7 million people were estimated to be in IPC Phase 3 or worse in 2022 (IPC).
- In 2022, an estimated 45 million people were in IPC Phase 5 (catastrophe).
In 2022, millions faced acute hunger and millions of children suffered malnutrition, costing lives and livelihoods.
Global Hunger
1828 million people were undernourished in 2021.[1]
Verified21 in 9 people in the world faced hunger in 2021.[1]
Verified33.1 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2019.[2]
Verified4720–811 million people faced hunger in 2020.[3]
Directional5160 million children were stunted in 2022.[4]
Single source651 million children were wasted in 2022.[4]
Verified7149 million children under 5 were stunted in 2022 (UNICEF estimates).[4]
Verified847 million children were wasted in 2022 (UNICEF estimates).[4]
Verified96.9 million people died from hunger in 2022 (FAO estimates).[5]
Directional103.1 million people die from hunger and malnutrition each year according to FAO.[6]
Single source118.0 million children died in 2020 before their fifth birthday, with malnutrition contributing to a substantial share of deaths.[7]
Verified12In 2021, 102 million people in Africa were affected by hunger.[1]
Verified13In 2021, 46 million people in Asia were affected by hunger.[1]
Verified14In 2021, 27 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean were affected by hunger.[1]
Directional15In 2021, 12 million people in Europe and Northern America were affected by hunger.[1]
Single source16In 2022, an estimated 258 million people faced acute food insecurity in 2022 (IPC Phase 3+).[8]
Verified17In 2022, 45 million people in 45 countries were in IPC Phase 5 (catastrophe).[8]
Verified18In 2023, 282 million people faced acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+).[9]
Verified19In 2023, 53 million people were in IPC Phase 5 (catastrophe).[9]
Directional20In 2023, 117 million people were at the highest risk of starvation in 38 countries (IPC Phase 3+ with severe hunger).[10]
Single source211.1 billion people were estimated to be unable to meet minimum dietary energy requirements in 2016.[11]
Verified222 billion people lacked access to safe drinking water (risk factor for malnutrition).[12]
Verified23Nearly 50% of under-5 deaths are associated with undernutrition.[13]
Verified24In 2022, 19% of children under 5 were stunted worldwide.[4]
Directional25In 2022, 6.8% of children under 5 were wasted worldwide.[4]
Single source26In 2022, 14.3% of children under 5 were affected by wasting (UNICEF).[4]
Verified27In 2022, 8.9% of children under 5 were affected by severe wasting (UNICEF).[4]
Verified28In 2021, 7.9% of the world population was undernourished.[1]
Verified29In 2021, Africa had the highest prevalence of undernourishment at 20.2%.[1]
Directional30In 2021, Asia’s prevalence of undernourishment was 8.3%.[1]
Single source31In 2021, Latin America and the Caribbean’s prevalence of undernourishment was 6.7%.[1]
Verified32In 2021, Northern America and Europe’s prevalence of undernourishment was 2.8%.[1]
Verified33In 2021, the number of undernourished people increased by 46 million since 2019.[1]
Verified34The world’s hunger increased by 2.5% between 2019 and 2021 due to conflict and COVID-19 impacts (FAO).[1]
Directional35In Yemen, 17.8 million people were projected to need humanitarian assistance in 2023 (OCHA).[14]
Single source36In Yemen, 2.3 million people were projected to face severe acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+).[14]
Verified37In South Sudan, 7.9 million people were estimated to be in need of food assistance in 2023 (WFP).[15]
Verified38In the Sahel, 34 million people were projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity in 2023 (CILSS/FAO).[16]
Verified39In Nigeria, 25.3 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023 (OCHA).[17]
Directional40In Ethiopia, 20.9 million people were projected to require humanitarian assistance in 2023 (OCHA).[18]
Single source4128.1% of the population in Madagascar was undernourished in 2021 (FAO).[19]
Verified4223.7% of the population in Chad was undernourished in 2021 (FAO).[19]
Verified4334.1% of the population in Yemen was undernourished in 2021 (FAO).[19]
Verified4416.1% of the population in Haiti was undernourished in 2021 (FAO).[19]
Directional4513.6% of the population in Afghanistan was undernourished in 2021 (FAO).[19]
Single source46The global cost of hunger is estimated at $1.27 trillion per year (FAO/IFPRI).[20]
Verified47Hunger reduces national income by 3% on average in countries with high undernourishment (FAO/WFP/IFPRI).[20]
VerifiedGlobal Hunger Interpretation
In 2023, 282 million people faced acute food insecurity with 53 million already in catastrophe and around 6.9 million deaths attributed to hunger in 2022, showing how quickly hunger risks can escalate from widespread need to life threatening outcomes.
Aid & Response
1In 2023, UNICEF reached 75 million children with nutrition services (UNICEF).[21]
Verified2In 2022, UNICEF supported the treatment of 9.5 million children for acute malnutrition.[22]
Verified3In 2022, 60 million children received vitamin A supplements through UNICEF-supported programs (UNICEF).[22]
Verified4In 2022, 49 million children received deworming tablets through UNICEF programs (UNICEF).[22]
Directional5In 2022, the World Bank provided $57 billion in assistance across developing countries (World Bank Annual Report 2022).[23]
Single source6In 2023, WFP delivered food and cash to 18.8 million people in Yemen.[24]
Verified7In 2023, WFP delivered food and cash to 16.1 million people in Ethiopia.[25]
Verified8In 2023, WFP delivered food and cash to 15.3 million people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[26]
Verified9In 2023, WFP delivered food and cash to 13.6 million people in Afghanistan.[27]
Directional10In 2023, UNICEF supported 72 million people with humanitarian assistance (UNICEF Global Annual Results 2023).[28]
Single source11In 2022, UNICEF supplied 1.3 million ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) treatments (UNICEF Supply).[29]
Verified12In 2022, UNICEF procured 1.7 million cartons of RUTF (UNICEF Supply).[29]
Verified13In 2022, MSF treated 1.2 million malnutrition cases (MSF).[30]
Verified14In 2023, MSF provided nutritional programs to 1.0 million patients worldwide (MSF annual report 2023).[31]
Directional15In 2022, the Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan had a funding shortfall of 51% (OCHA).[32]
Single source16In 2022, Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan coverage reached 70% of planned aid (OCHA).[33]
Verified17In 2022, the Sudan humanitarian operation required $2.6 billion and was funded at 43% (OCHA).[34]
Verified18In 2023, Ethiopia’s humanitarian response plan required $2.7 billion and was funded at 54% (OCHA).[35]
VerifiedAid & Response Interpretation
Together these figures show that while support for children remains vast, it is uneven and often constrained by funding, with humanitarian plans in 2022 and 2023 falling well short of full need such as Sudan at 43% and Ethiopia at 54%, even as UNICEF reached 75 million children with nutrition services in 2023.
Health & Nutrition
127.4% of people in developing countries do not have access to sufficient food (FAO).[1]
Verified2Micronutrient deficiencies affect about 2 billion people worldwide (WHO).[36]
Verified3Iron deficiency affects about 1.62 billion people globally (Global Burden of Disease).[37]
Verified4Low birth weight affects 14.6% of babies worldwide (UNICEF/WHO).[38]
Directional5Breastfeeding rates protect against malnutrition; 44% of babies under 6 months are exclusively breastfed globally (UNICEF 2023).[39]
Single source6About 30% of stunted children are also low birth weight (UNICEF/WHO evidence base).[40]
Verified7In children, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is associated with an 11.5% case fatality rate in some settings (systematic reviews).[41]
Verified8Therapeutic feeding programs reduce mortality in SAM to below 10% in many settings (review).[42]
Verified9Oral rehydration solution (ORS) reduces mortality from diarrhea by about 93% compared with no ORS (Cochrane review).[43]
Directional10Diarrhea causes an estimated 525,000 deaths of children under 5 each year globally (WHO/UNICEF).[44]
Single source11Parasitic diseases contribute to malnutrition; WHO estimates 1.5 billion people affected by soil-transmitted helminths (WHO).[45]
Verified12Globally, 150 million children under 5 are stunted due to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene risks (Lancet).[46]
Verified13Each additional month of inadequate breastfeeding reduces a child’s growth by 0.07 standard deviations (systematic review).[47]
Verified14Nutrition interventions in the first 1000 days can avert 20% of child stunting (Lancet series estimate).[48]
Directional15A 2019 Lancet analysis estimated that improving diet could reduce global disease burden by 11 million deaths (diet risk).[49]
Single source16Global prevalence of food insecurity in 2019: 9.3% of population experienced moderate or severe food insecurity (FAO FIES).[50]
Verified17Severe food insecurity prevalence in 2019 was 2.8% of the population (FAO FIES).[50]
Verified18In 2019, about 928 million people faced moderate or severe food insecurity (FAO).[50]
Verified19In 2019, about 135 million people faced severe food insecurity (FAO).[50]
Directional20Stunting is associated with a 1.5–2x increased risk of mortality in children under 5 (meta-analysis).[51]
Single source21Wasting is associated with 2–3x increased risk of child mortality (systematic review).[52]
Verified22SAM case fatality rates increase sharply without treatment, with reported rates often exceeding 20% (review).[53]
Verified23Severe malnutrition in children contributes to impaired immune function, increasing susceptibility to infections (review).[54]
VerifiedHealth & Nutrition Interpretation
Across these measures, the scale of the problem is clear: in 2019 about 928 million people faced moderate or severe food insecurity and 9.3% of the world’s population did, while malnutrition also drives severe child risk with stunting increasing mortality by 1.5 to 2 times and severe acute malnutrition still showing an 11.5% case fatality rate in some settings.
Drivers & Economics
1The global food import bill increased to $2.5 trillion in 2022 (WTO).[55]
Verified2Food prices increased by 23% between 2020 and 2021 (FAO Food Price Index).[56]
Verified3The FAO Food Price Index averaged 159.7 in 2022, up from 125.9 in 2020 (FAO).[56]
Verified4Food price volatility rose in 2022, with the index reaching a peak of 159.7 in March 2022 (FAO).[56]
Directional5Global cereal stocks fell to 607 million tonnes in 2022/23 (FAO/USDA).[57]
Single source6Climate-related disasters displaced 30.7 million people globally in 2022 (Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre).[58]
Verified7In 2023, 6% of global people were in acute food insecurity due to conflict shocks (IPC/FAO).[59]
Verified8COVID-19 reduced food availability in 79% of surveyed countries in early 2020 (FAO/WFP/WHO).[60]
Verified9Price spikes for food items increased affordability stress for poor households by 30% (FAO).[61]
Directional10Energy prices increased by 50% in 2022 compared with 2021 (World Bank Commodity Markets).[62]
Single source11In 2022, Russia-Ukraine war contributed to increases in global wheat prices; wheat futures rose by over 40% between Feb and Mar 2022 (World Bank/Pulitzer).[62]
Verified12Wheat export restrictions increased global wheat prices by 23% in April 2022 (World Bank).[62]
Verified13The global population exposed to extreme heat events increased to 1.2 billion (IPCC).[63]
Verified14Agricultural output is projected to decline by 3–10% in low-latitude developing regions by 2050 under warming scenarios (IPCC).[64]
Directional15In 2022, 65% of the global poor lived in countries affected by fragile and conflict-affected situations (World Bank).[65]
Single source16The Global Report on Food Crises estimated $40.9 billion needed for emergency food assistance in 2022 (WFP/IPC).[66]
Verified17In 2022, the funding gap for food assistance and livelihoods reached $7.0 billion (WFP).[66]
Verified18The cost of a healthy diet was unaffordable for 3.1 billion people in 2019 (FAO).[50]
VerifiedDrivers & Economics Interpretation
From COVID-19 shocks affecting 79% of surveyed countries to energy prices rising 50% in 2022 and cereal stocks dropping to 607 million tonnes in 2022 to 2023, the data shows a widening affordability and supply crisis, with 6% of the world in acute food insecurity in 2023 and a huge $40.9 billion emergency need in 2022 against a $7.0 billion funding gap.
Cost & Severity
1In South Sudan, 1.1 million people were estimated to be in IPC Phase 4 (emergency) or worse in 2022 (IPC).[67]
Verified2In Somalia, 1.7 million people were estimated to be in IPC Phase 3 or worse in 2022 (IPC).[67]
Verified3In 2022, an estimated 45 million people were in IPC Phase 5 (catastrophe).[8]
Verified4In 2023, an estimated 53 million people were in IPC Phase 5 (catastrophe).[9]
Directional5In 2022, an estimated 258 million people were in IPC Phase 3 or worse (IPC Phase 3+).[8]
Single source6In 2023, an estimated 282 million people were in IPC Phase 3 or worse (IPC Phase 3+).[9]
Verified7In 2023, 53 million people were in IPC Phase 5 and 229 million were in IPC Phase 3–4 (IPC).[9]
Verified8A 2020 report estimated hunger-related economic losses at $1.27 trillion per year (FAO).[68]
Verified9A 2017 study estimated that childhood stunting reduces lifetime earnings by 20% (Lancet/World Bank cited).[69]
Directional10Inadequate nutrition reduces GDP by 2% to 3% annually in high-burden countries (World Bank/IFPRI).[70]
Single source11Malnutrition contributes to 3.5 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost annually in some estimates (GBD).[71]
Verified12In Yemen, 2.2 million people were classified as IPC Phase 4 or 5 in early 2022 (IPC Yemen).[72]
Verified13In Afghanistan, 20.0 million people were estimated to be food insecure in 2022 (WFP/FAO).[27]
Verified14In Haiti, 4.7 million people were estimated to face food insecurity in 2023 (WFP).[73]
Directional15In Gaza, 1.1 million people were projected to face catastrophic hunger in 2024 (IPC/UN).[74]
Single source16In 2020, Yemen had the highest prevalence of wasting among countries reported at 20% (UNICEF/WHO).[4]
Verified17In 2022, the share of population undernourished in Africa was 20.2% (FAO).[1]
Verified18In 2022, the share of population undernourished in Asia was 8.3% (FAO).[1]
Verified19In 2022, the share of population undernourished in Latin America and the Caribbean was 6.7% (FAO).[1]
Directional20In 2022, the share of population undernourished in Europe and Northern America was 2.8% (FAO).[1]
Single source21In 2021, the global prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity was 27.6% (FAO FIES).[75]
Verified22In 2021, the global prevalence of severe food insecurity was 9.6% (FAO FIES).[75]
Verified23In 2021, 13.9% of people in developing countries were moderately or severely food insecure (FAO).[75]
VerifiedCost & Severity Interpretation
Between 2022 and 2023, the number of people in IPC Phase 3 or worse rose from 258 million to 282 million, while those in IPC Phase 5 catastrophe increased from 45 million to 53 million, underscoring a worsening hunger crisis affecting hundreds of millions more people.
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