How Hunger Hits 733 Million, Africa Suffers Most

In 2023, hunger wasn’t just a distant news headline—it was a harsh reality for over 733 million people worldwide. That’s about one in every eleven people on the planet. In Africa, the situation is even more dire, with one in every five people grappling with hunger. 

This striking disparity highlights a global crisis that disproportionately affects the African continent.

The 2024 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) Report sheds light on this critical issue. Compiled by top organizations including UNICEF and the World Food Programme, the report provides a grim snapshot of our current state of food insecurity. 

Victor Aguayo, Director of the Child Nutrition and Development Programme Group at UNICEF, shared these findings in Lagos, emphasizing the urgent need for action.

While the report discusses global challenges like obesity and malnutrition, its focus on hunger in Africa reveals a troubling trend: despite global efforts, food access remains a critical issue. 

Over 2.8 billion people globally cannot afford a healthy diet—over 70% of them in low-income countries, with Africa at the epicenter of this crisis.

Stunting and malnutrition in children are rampant, with 22.3% of children under five affected. Despite some progress in areas like breastfeeding, other nutrition targets are far from being met. 

With adult obesity rates climbing and projected to reach 1.2 billion by 2030, the contrast between undernutrition and obesity paints a picture of a deeply unequal global food system.

The SOFI report isn’t just a collection of statistics—it’s a call to action. It urges governments to invest in nutrition, especially during the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life. 

Nutritious, safe, and affordable food must be made accessible, while producing and consuming poor-quality, ultra-processed foods should be discouraged.