World hunger facts

The climate crisis 

Rising temperatures and extreme weather are having a huge impact on people who already live in some of the toughest places on earth. Droughts and famines, cyclones and floods – often related to climate change – as well as earthquakes and tsunamis, can all crank up the cycle of hunger.

The climate emergency is a humanitarian emergency. Without change, there will be food crises globally due to the warming climate and biodiversity loss. Extreme weather events, like cyclones and prolonged droughts, will become more frequent and growing seasons will be shorter.

Conflict

Armed conflict is the biggest single cause of hunger in the world today. War drives hunger. As do emergencies and disasters. War disrupts growing and exporting crops, all over the world.

Those who survive conflict will have their lives blighted. Many will have their future health, wealth and wellbeing compromised. As a result, they are more likely to raise their children in poverty and hunger.

Poverty

Poverty is often a major cause of food insecurity. But even though the world produces enough food to feed the entire population, four out of ten people across the globe can’t afford a healthy diet.

Some countries experience poverty and food insecurity more than others. In South Asia  alone, they’ll  need to create more than 13 million jobs every year to keep pace with population growth.

Poverty often leads to a downward spiral of despair. Families and individuals start by cutting back on clothing and leisure activities. Then, over time, they start cutting back on nutritious,  varied food before then cutting back on food altogether.

Gender inequality

Hunger affects everyone differently. But around the world, women and girls are most at risk of becoming malnourished.

In countries facing conflict, famine and hunger, women and girls often eat last and least.

Covid-19

Covid-19 has made the world’s poorest people poorer. It sent shockwaves through economies, so millions can’t afford decent food to eat.

Action Against Hunger carries out life-saving prevention work and provides treatment for life-threatening hunger and mental health issues. We also support those affected by Covid-19.

What’s the solution?

We’re building a world where no one dies from hunger.

For over forty years, we’ve led the global movement to end life-threatening hunger for good. Because nobody needs to die from hunger.

Our unstoppable energy comes from our unbeatable knowledge. With the right technical know-how, we can break down the biggest problems into simple steps.

Action Against Hunger focuses hard on diagnosis and treatment, as well as on prevention. As a leading technical organisation in the prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition, we have and continue to play a key role in piloting new approaches in order to ensure all children affected by acute malnutrition can receive the care they need.

When a major crisis hits, we link with other UK charities specialising in humanitarian aid, through our membership of the Disasters Emergency Committee and the Start Network, helping all to respond early and quickly to emergencies together.

In 2023, we helped more than 21 million people in 56 countries around the world.