Africa has overtaken Asia as the continent with the highest number of people experiencing hunger for the first time, according to the latest United Nations report on global food security.
The findings were contained in the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report jointly published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development, UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organisation.
According to the report, about 309 million people in Africa suffered from hunger in 2025, representing 20 per cent of the continent’s population.
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In comparison, 292 million people in Asia, or about six per cent of its population, experienced hunger during the same period.
The report said the figures reflect a major shift in global hunger patterns, with Africa now carrying the highest burden of undernourishment.
“The centre of gravity of hunger has shifted from Asia to Africa,” FAO Agrifood Economics Division Director David Laborde said.
He credited Asia’s progress to sustained efforts by countries such as China and India to improve food security.
Globally, hunger levels continued to decline, with the proportion of undernourished people dropping from 8.6 per cent in 2022 to 7.8 per cent in 2025.
The number of people facing hunger also fell by about 43 million, bringing the global total to 645 million.
Despite the progress, the report noted that hunger remains above pre-pandemic levels.
The UN agencies also found that Africa has the highest percentage of people unable to afford a healthy diet.
About 66.6 per cent of Africans cannot afford nutritious meals, more than double the proportion recorded in Asia.
The agencies urged African governments to reform food systems, particularly the animal-source food sector, to improve affordability and nutrition.
The report attributed worsening food insecurity across the continent to armed conflicts, climate-related disasters and economic challenges.
Laborde cited the conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo as major drivers of hunger, noting that millions of people have lost access to farmland and livelihoods.
He added that although higher energy and fertiliser costs linked to geopolitical tensions have had limited impact so far, the global food situation remains fragile.
