A new United Nations report reveals a stark contrast between global progress in reducing hunger and a deepening food crisis in Africa. In 2024, over one billion Africans—approximately two-thirds of the continent’s population—could not afford a healthy diet, even as global hunger levels declined slightly.
The prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in Africa stands at more than double the global average, highlighting the region’s growing vulnerability. The report, on July 28, compiled by five UN agencies including the FAO and WFP, underscores that Africa is not on track to meet the 2030 zero hunger target.
The report projects that by 2030, nearly 512 million people globally may be chronically undernourished, with Africa accounting for close to 60% of that figure. The UN warns that conflict, economic instability, climate change, and dwindling international aid are compounding the crisis. The increase in Africans unable to afford nutritious food—from 864 million in 2019 to over one billion in 2024—further illustrates the deteriorating state of food security on the continent. In contrast, this figure has declined globally over the same period.
UN experts caution that unless decisive action is taken, food insecurity will continue to escalate, particularly in conflict-ridden and climate-vulnerable regions like Sudan, the Sahel, and Nigeria. FAO’s chief economist, Máximo Torero, attributes the crisis partly to agricultural output lagging behind population growth, warning that interlinked shocks are weakening already fragile agrifood systems. The call is urgent: reverse the trajectory now or risk a widening humanitarian catastrophe.