Nearly 8% of the world’s population faced hunger in 2025, according to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report. The SOFI report, jointly prepared by five UN agencies, estimates that about 645 million people experienced hunger last year.The report was produced by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). It was launched this week at FAO headquarters in Rome.
At the launch, the FAO highlighted that hunger has declined globally. The 645 million figure is 14 million fewer people than in 2024, and 43 million fewer than the peak reached in 2022. Food security also improved substantially, particularly in South America and Southern Asia.Despite these gains, the UN agencies warn that the numbers remain alarming. They stressed that urgent action is still needed because geopolitical tensions and climate-related risks could threaten global food systems.
In an interview with Reuters, FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero said disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are among the greatest immediate concerns. The strait is a key route for energy and agricultural inputs. Such disruptions drive up prices for fuel, fertilizers, and transportation, which in turn increases food production costs worldwide.Torero also noted that a potentially strong El Niño weather pattern could add further pressure by disrupting agricultural production in vulnerable regions.
At the report’s launch, FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu said the findings show “that determined policy action can deliver results.”However, he insisted that work must continue to sustain and accelerate recent progress. While the decline in hunger is encouraging, the agencies emphasized that millions still face food insecurity and the world remains far from eradicating hunger.