Global hunger declined in 2024, helped by better food security in Asia and South America, the United Nations said in its 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report released on 28 July. The study, published jointly by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, notes that progress was uneven as the number of undernourished people continued to increase across Africa and Western Asia. Affordability remains a critical barrier to nutritious diets. The report estimates that 544.7 million people—about 72% of the population—in low-income countries could not afford a healthy diet in 2024. Undernutrition persists among the youngest: more than 190 million children under five are affected, despite the overall drop in hunger. UN agencies attribute the mixed performance to persistent food-price inflation, conflicts, extreme weather events and economic shocks. Price spikes have hit low-income countries disproportionately, worsening acute malnutrition and threatening recent gains. The organisations call for stronger policy coordination, greater investment in resilient food systems and targeted support for vulnerable populations to prevent the regional setbacks from eroding global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger.