Undernourished People in the World
CURRENT TOTAL
Live Counter Notable Facts
(Data shown in the table is for 2025. Counter shows current estimate)
Most Affected Region
Children Under 5
Progress Since 2000
Understanding Undernourished People in the World
This counter tracks the number of people worldwide who suffer from chronic undernourishment, lacking regular access to sufficient nutritious food for an active and healthy life. Currently, approximately 733 million people globally face hunger daily.
Undernourishment represents one of humanity's most pressing challenges, affecting nearly one in ten people worldwide. The causes are complex and multifaceted, ranging from poverty and conflict to climate change and economic instability that disrupt food systems and access.
The distribution of hunger is highly uneven globally, with Sub-Saharan Africa bearing the heaviest burden. Despite significant progress in reducing global hunger over the past decades, recent years have seen concerning reversals, particularly due to conflicts, climate shocks, and economic downturns.
Global Hunger Landscape
- Hunger affects people across all regions but is most concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, where poverty, conflict, and climate change create persistent food insecurity.
- The majority of undernourished people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, making them particularly vulnerable to weather shocks and market fluctuations.
- Women and children are disproportionately affected by hunger, with pregnant and lactating women facing increased nutritional needs while children suffer long-term developmental impacts.
- Chronic undernourishment leads to stunting in children, reduced cognitive development, increased susceptibility to disease, and perpetuates cycles of poverty across generations.
Hunger and Nutrition Terminology
- Undernourishment: Condition where dietary energy consumption is below the minimum required for maintaining a healthy life
- Food Security: Access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets dietary needs for an active and healthy life
- Stunting: Impaired growth and development in children due to poor nutrition, infection, and inadequate care
- Wasting: Low weight for height, indicating acute undernutrition often resulting from inadequate food intake or illness
Regional Distribution of Hunger (2025)
- Sub-Saharan Africa: 418 million undernourished
- Southern Asia: 205 million undernourished
- Eastern Asia: 64 million undernourished
- Western Asia: 31 million undernourished
- Latin America & Caribbean: 15 million undernourished
Causes of Undernourishment
- Poverty and lack of purchasing power
- Armed conflict and political instability
- Climate change and natural disasters
- Poor agricultural productivity
- Inadequate social protection systems
- Limited access to clean water and sanitation
Data Sources and References
Methodology and Data Collection
Undernourishment data is compiled by the FAO using nationally representative household surveys, dietary assessment studies, and food balance sheet data to estimate the prevalence of inadequate dietary energy consumption.
The counter uses the most recent FAO estimates and projections, accounting for population growth and changing food security conditions to provide real-time estimates of global undernourishment.