For the first time, Africa surpasses Asia in the number of people facing hunger, despite a third consecutive year of global decline in hunger
When global statistics show improvement while millions continue to suffer from hunger, the numbers cease to be abstract. They become a reflection of systemic problems, inequality and inaccessibility of basic resources. Africa, despite economic growth and natural wealth, remains a region where one in five people lacks access to adequate nutrition. This paradox demands not only humanitarian aid but also a reassessment of approaches to food security, logistics and investment in sustainable development.
According to a new UN report, Africa now has more hungry people than any other region, surpassing Asia, despite the fact that global hunger levels have been falling for the third consecutive year. According to the "State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026" report, about 309 million people in Africa faced hunger in 2025, compared with 292 million in Asia. The hungry account for 20 per cent of Africa's population. Although this share has slightly declined from 20.3 per cent in 2024, the number of affected remains the highest among all regions amid rapid population growth.
The report also notes that 56.6 per cent of Africans experienced moderate or severe food insecurity last year, meaning they sometimes could not get enough food or were forced to compromise on its quality or quantity. Healthy food remains unaffordable for 66.6 per cent of the continent's population, more than double the rates in Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. The report pointed to high costs at all stages of the food supply chain, including processing, transport and wholesale trade, as a major barrier to improving the affordability of nutritious food.
UN agencies have called for investment in infrastructure, cold storage, irrigation and more resilient food supply systems to help reduce costs, cut losses and improve access to nutritious food. Particular attention is drawn to the need to integrate African countries into global supply chains, reduce dependence on imports and develop local agriculture.
As CCTV+ reports. Experts stress that solving Africa's food problem requires not only financial injections but also long term structural reforms aimed at improving agricultural efficiency and logistics systems.
