Global Hunger Declines for Third Consecutive Year Amidst Ongoing Conflict and Climate Challenges

The global population experiencing hunger declined for the third consecutive year in 2024, reducing to 8.2%, according to a U.N. report released Monday. Despite this improvement, conflicts and climate shocks have exacerbated malnutrition in regions such as Africa and Western Asia.

The 'State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World' report, jointly prepared by five U.N. agencies, detailed that 673 million people faced hunger in 2024, a slight decrease from 8.5% in 2023. The report highlighted that the improvement was primarily due to progress in South America and India, which saw better food access.

U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's chief economist, Maximo Torero, warned that continued conflict and rising debt could reverse recent gains. The number of undernourished individuals remains significantly high in Africa, where 307 million people were affected in 2024, a figure expected to rise without significant intervention.

(With inputs from agencies.)