A new United Nations report reveals a stark rise in food insecurity across Africa, with over 1 billion people unable to afford a healthy diet in 2024.

This figure represents nearly two-thirds of the continent’s population, surpassing all other global regions in severity. While the global hunger rate shows a slight improvement, dropping from 8.5% in 2023 to 8.2% in 2024, Africa’s food insecurity continues to climb.

The continent’s prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity is more than double the global average of 28%, according to the report by five U.N. agencies. Key organizations behind the report include the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Program, and the World Health Organization.

Africa’s undernourishment rate exceeds 20%, highlighting a widening gap as other regions make modest progress toward eliminating hunger by 2030. The report projects 512 million chronically undernourished people worldwide by 2030, with nearly 60% residing in Africa.

FAO chief economist Máximo Torero warned the current trajectory is alarming and demands urgent reversal to avoid catastrophic outcomes. He emphasized conflicts, economic instability, and climate shocks as critical drivers that strain already fragile agricultural systems across the continent.

Countries like Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, and Nigeria remain among the worst affected “hunger hotspots,” facing acute food insecurity and persistent crises. Torero stressed the complex interaction of violence and climate change weakens food production, especially in conflict zones like Sudan and the Sahel.

Despite global efforts, Africa remains the most vulnerable region, with millions struggling to secure a basic, healthy diet amid rising challenges. The U.N. calls for urgent international action to address food insecurity and support sustainable agricultural development across Africa.

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