Global Hunger Doubles in a Decade as Conflict and Funding Cuts Deepen Food Crises

Acute food insecurity and malnutrition remain alarmingly high worldwide, with crises increasingly concentrated in a small group of countries, according to the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2026.

The report shows that global acute hunger has nearly doubled over the past decade. In 2025, about 266 million people across 47 countries faced high levels of acute food insecurity, nearly 23 percent of the analysed population and one of the highest levels recorded.

For the first time in the report’s history, famine was confirmed in two separate contexts within a single year, in Gaza Governorate and parts of Sudan, signaling a sharp escalation in extreme hunger driven by conflict, restricted humanitarian access, and displacement.

Food crises remain heavily concentrated. Ten countries, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen, account for nearly two-thirds of those facing severe hunger. Among them, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen bear the largest burden.

The severity of hunger is also worsening. The number of people facing catastrophic hunger, IPC Phase 5, is now nine times higher than in 2016, making 2025 one of the most critical years on record.

Children are among the hardest hit. An estimated 35.5 million children were acutely malnourished in 2025, including nearly 10 million suffering from severe acute malnutrition. In the worst-affected areas, such as Gaza, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Sudan, overlapping crises of conflict, disease, and limited services have pushed malnutrition to extreme levels.

Forced displacement continues to intensify the crisis. More than 85 million people were displaced across food-crisis contexts in 2025, with displaced populations facing higher levels of hunger than host communities.

“Conflict remains the primary driver of acute food insecurity and malnutrition,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, describing the emergence of famine in two regions in the same year as unprecedented.

Looking ahead, the outlook for 2026 remains bleak. Ongoing conflicts, climate shocks, and economic instability are expected to sustain or worsen food insecurity. Rising energy and transport costs, particularly in import-dependent regions, are already reducing the purchasing power of vulnerable households.

At the same time, declining humanitarian and development funding is limiting the ability to respond effectively. Financial support for food crises has dropped to levels last seen nearly a decade ago, while reduced resources have also affected data collection.

The report warns that apparent improvements in global figures may be misleading, as several major crisis-affected countries lack reliable data, masking the true scale of hunger.

The Global Network Against Food Crises calls for urgent, coordinated action to address root causes, including conflict and climate vulnerability, while investing in resilient food systems and ensuring humanitarian access.

Without sustained global commitment, the report cautions, millions more could be pushed deeper into hunger.