In 2023, around 733 million people across the globe faced hunger, with Africa experiencing the most significant impact of this crisis. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report indicates that 20.4% of Africa’s population, or one in five Africans, suffered from hunger. This alarming statistic underscores the severe effects of global crises on the continent.
Published by five United Nations agencies, the SOFI report highlights that global hunger levels have remained unchanged over the past three years. Despite international commitments to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030, the world is now 15 years behind schedule, with undernourishment rates comparable to those of 2008-2009. The situation in Africa is particularly concerning, with hunger increasing across most subregions. Contributing factors include persistent food price inflation, conflicts, climate change, and economic downturns, all of which erode economic gains and exacerbate food insecurity.
The report further notes that 58% of Africa’s population experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023, with many unable to afford a healthy diet. This stands in stark contrast to high-income countries, where only 6.3% of the population faces similar issues.
United Nations agencies are calling for urgent, increased financing and innovative solutions to combat this escalating crisis. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu emphasized the need to transform agrifood systems to build resilience, while IFAD President Alvaro Lario highlighted the importance of investments in rural agriculture.
The report stated, “Last year, more than 700 million people, or about 9% of the world’s population, were suffering from hunger, up from 7.5% in 2019. Of all the world’s continents, Africa has the largest proportion of hungry people (20.4%), against 8.41% in Asia, and 6.2% in Latin America and the Caribbean combined. Last year, an estimated 300 million people lacked sufficient food in Africa, up from 282 million people in 2022.”
For more updates, join our WhatsApp channel.