& EUROPE
<2.5%
Prevalence of
undernourishment
Values based on the middle of the projected range
How many people are hungry in the world?
& EUROPE
9.1%
Prevalence of
undernourishment
424.5 MILLION
Number
of
undernourished
5.8%
Prevalence of
undernourishment
2.5 MILLION
Number
of
undernourished
20.2%
Prevalence of
undernourishment
278 MILLION
Number
of
undernourished
& CARIBBEAN
8.6%
Prevalence of
undernourishment
56.5 MILLION
Number
of
undernourished
Hunger is an uncomfortable or painful physical sensation caused by insufficient consumption of dietary energy. It becomes chronic when the person does not consume a sufficient amount of calories (dietary energy) on a regular basis to lead a normal, active and healthy life.
For decades, FAO has used the Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) to estimate the extent of hunger in the world, thus “hunger” may also be referred to as undernourishment.
The PoU is an estimate of the proportion of the population that does not have access to adequate dietary energy. It is based on country data on food availability, food consumption and energy needs.
Projections forecast an increase in hunger in Africa and decreases in other regions that would make Africa the region with the largest number of undernourished people by 2030.
2020 and 2021 values based on the middle of the projected range.
How many people are food insecure around the world?
& EUROPE
8%
Moderate + Severe
1.5%
Severe
24.6%
Moderate + Severe
10.5%
Severe
13%
Moderate + Severe
4.5%
Severe
57.9%
Moderate + Severe
23.4%
Severe
& CARIBBEAN
40.6%
Moderate + Severe
14.2%
Severe
Food
security
Adequate access to food in both quality and quantity.
Moderate food
insecurity
People experiencing moderate food insecurity face uncertainties about their ability to obtain food, and have been forced to compromise on the quality and/or quantity of the food they consume.
Severe food
insecurity
People experiencing severe food insecurity have typically run out of food and at worst, gone a day (or days) without eating.
The prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity is the total prevalence of moderate food insecurity and severe food insecurity, combined.
Percent of the total population
0% - <2.5%
2.5% - 4.9%
5% - 9.9%
10% - 24.9%
25% - 39.9%
40% - 60%
No Data
1
voice can make an impact
Listen to the food-related actions of people from all walks of life including farmers, fishers, pastoralists, youth and policymakers.
Hilda's story: Youth in agribusiness in Kenya
Dulce - A student in Guatemala
Lowell - An Agriculturist in Philippines
Solar Powered Water Pumps In Yemen
Thailand and the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing
Indonesia Rice-Fish Farming
Betty Ndugga, a female entrepreneur in Uganda
A Rohingya Refugee in Bangladesh: Nur Bahar
