In 2024, over 295 million people across 53 countries and territories faced acute food insecurity, marking the sixth consecutive year of worsening hunger, according to the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) released on May 16, 2025. The report warns that 1.9 million people have now reached catastrophic levels of hunger (IPC Phase 5)—the highest number ever recorded since the GRFC began tracking in 2016.

The report, compiled by the Global Network Against Food Crises, attributes the crisis to a lethal mix of conflict, economic shocks, climate extremes, and forced displacement. These overlapping drivers continue to destabilize the world’s most vulnerable regions, pushing millions further into crisis.

Among the most alarming findings:

• 295 million people experienced acute hunger in 2024—up 13.7 million from the previous year.
• 22.6% of the assessed population faced crisis-level food insecurity or worse.
• 1.9 million people are now in IPC/CH Phase 5 (catastrophe/famine).
• 38 million children under five were acutely malnourished across 26 countries.
• Nearly 95 million forcibly displaced people live in food crisis countries, out of a global total of 128 million.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the figures, stating: “This Global Report on Food Crises is another unflinching indictment of a world dangerously off course. Hunger in the 21st century is indefensible. We cannot respond to empty stomachs with empty hands and turned backs.”

QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), emphasized the need for long-term agricultural solutions, saying:“As we launch the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, we are cognizant that acute food insecurity is not just a crisis – it is a constant reality for millions of people, most of whom live in rural areas. The path forward is clear: investment in emergency agriculture is critical, not just as a response, but as the most cost-effective solution to deliver significant long-lasting impact.”

CONFLICT, ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, AND CLIMATE SHOCK: A TRIPLE THREAT

• Conflict remains the leading driver of acute food insecurity, impacting 140 million people in 20 countries. Famine has been declared in Sudan, while catastrophic hunger affects populations in Gaza, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.
• Economic shocks, including inflation and currency devaluation, fueled food crises in 15 countries, affecting nearly 60 million people—almost double pre-pandemic levels.
• Climate extremes, especially El Niño-driven droughts and floods, plunged 18 countries into food crises, affecting over 96 million people, particularly in Southern Africa, South Asia, and the Horn of Africa.

A BREAKING POINT IN HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Despite the soaring need, the report notes that 2024 witnessed the sharpest drop in humanitarian funding for food and nutrition crises in recent history. As funding gaps widen and global attention wanes, life-saving responses are being scaled back just as needs peak. The Global Network warns that these shocks will likely continue into 2025, further deepening the crisis unless bold and coordinated action is taken.

A CALL FOR A SYSTEMIC RESET

To break the cycle, the GRFC urges a strategic shift from reactive aid to long-term resilience. This includes:

• Investing in local food systems and sustainable agriculture.
• Expanding integrated nutrition services, especially for children.
• Strengthening community resilience in regions where up to 70% of rural households rely on agriculture for survival.

Without urgent, well-funded, and coordinated global action, millions more may fall into preventable hunger and malnutrition in the months ahead.