The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2025 warns that progress in reducing hunger worldwide is stagnating, with 42 countries facing serious or alarming hunger levels. Conflict and armed violence have driven 20 food crises over the past year, affecting nearly 140 million people. While regions in South and Southeast Asia and Latin America show declines in hunger where stability and investment are present, the global pace of improvement is far too slow to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger by 2030. At the current rate, low hunger levels globally may not be reached until 2137, over a century away.
According to Réiseal Ní Chéilleachair, Director of Strategy, Advocacy and Learning at Concern Worldwide, the lack of progress reflects policy failures, insufficient financing, and weak implementation rather than inevitability. The report stresses that hunger is driven by overlapping global crises, including escalating conflicts, climate shocks, economic fragility, and political disengagement. While some countries have made progress in undernourishment, the international community must urgently renew political will and refocus efforts to support the most affected communities.
The 2025 GHI shows seven countries—Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Madagascar, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen—experiencing “alarming” hunger, with another 35 countries facing “serious” hunger levels. Additionally, 27 countries with previously lower hunger scores have seen increases since 2016. Data gaps in nations such as Burundi, DPRK, the occupied Palestinian territories, Sudan, and Yemen obscure the full scale of the problem, likely underestimating the true severity.
The report also highlights the impact of reduced humanitarian funding and increased military spending, which limits assistance to only the most acute cases, leaving many communities without support. Weakening of monitoring and early-warning systems further diminishes the visibility of hunger crises, creating a cycle where needs go unaddressed.
Despite these challenges, there are encouraging signs in parts of South and Southeast Asia and Latin America, where sustained investments have led to measurable reductions in undernourishment. Countries like Angola, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, and Sierra Leone demonstrate that targeted efforts and stability can drive meaningful progress in tackling hunger, underscoring the importance of political commitment, resources, and long-term strategies.
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