GENEVA: Global hunger declined for the third consecutive year in 2025, but an estimated 645 million people around the world still suffered from chronic hunger, according to the latest United Nations State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report.

The report, released on Tuesday, estimates that 7.8% of the global population experienced hunger in 2025, down from 8.1% in 2024 and 8.6% in 2022. The figures represent 14 million fewer hungry people than in 2024 and 43 million fewer than in 2022, reflecting gradual progress in global food security.

Hunger Declines but Remains Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

The UN said the improvement marks the third consecutive annual decline since hunger surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, global hunger levels remain higher than they were before the pandemic in 2019, highlighting the long-term impact of economic disruptions, conflicts and climate-related crises.

Despite encouraging progress, hundreds of millions of people continue to struggle with severe food insecurity, driven by armed conflicts, economic instability and extreme weather events.

Africa Remains the Hardest-Hit Region

According to the report, Africa continues to be the global epicenter of hunger.

An estimated 309 million people across the continent were undernourished in 2025, accounting for nearly one in every five Africans. The region alone represents almost half of the world’s hungry population.

Asia recorded the second-highest number of undernourished people, with approximately 292 million people, or 6% of its population, experiencing hunger.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, around 32 million people, representing 4.8% of the region’s population, remained undernourished.

Conflict and Climate Continue to Drive Food Insecurity

The United Nations warned that although global hunger is gradually declining, ongoing armed conflicts, economic shocks, inflation, and climate change continue to threaten food security worldwide.

Humanitarian agencies stressed that millions of vulnerable communities remain at risk as wars, natural disasters and rising food prices disrupt agricultural production and limit access to nutritious food.

The report calls for stronger international cooperation, increased investment in sustainable agriculture, and expanded humanitarian assistance to accelerate progress toward ending hunger and achieving global food security.