One-third of world's population cannot afford healthy diet
· news
A Diet of Desperation: The Alarming Rise of Global Hunger
A staggering one-third of the world’s population cannot afford a healthy diet, a figure that has persisted despite efforts to eradicate hunger globally. This reality underscores systemic failures that have left millions struggling to access nutritious food.
The latest report from five UN agencies paints a bleak picture: 2.69 billion people are unable to afford a diverse diet that meets their energy and nutrient needs. To put this number into perspective, consider the combined population of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The fact that hunger has declined for only two consecutive years since 2025 is disconcerting.
The cost of a healthy diet itself is a major contributing factor to this impasse. According to the report, approximately $4.28 per day in purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars is required to afford a balanced meal. This amount seems modest, but in many countries, the minimum wage or equivalent poverty line hovers around $3 PPP per person. It’s daunting for individuals and families to make ends meet when even basic nutrition is out of reach.
Maximo Torero, chief economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), notes that current government policies often focus on subsidizing staples like cereals and starchy foods rather than promoting more diverse diets rich in fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy. This has created a cycle where people rely on cheap, calorie-dense foods that exacerbate obesity and chronic diseases.
Adult obesity rates have risen from 12.1% in 2012 to 16.2% in 2024, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This trend is concerning due to its link to increased healthcare costs and reduced productivity.
Africa bears the brunt of this crisis, with an astonishing 66.6% of its population unable to afford a healthy diet. The continent’s rapid population growth has driven up hunger levels, which are now surpassed only by Asia in terms of absolute numbers.
The situation is urgent, and Torero emphasizes that “it’s extremely urgent” to address this issue through targeted policies and investments in infrastructure, research, and development. More efficient supply chains could help reduce prices for essential food items, while promoting greater consumption of fruits and vegetables could mitigate some costs associated with poor diets.
However, there are signs of hope on the horizon: Africa’s hunger rates have begun to decrease “for the first time in years.” This trend may be short-lived due to looming shipping restrictions related to the Middle East conflict.
The report serves as a wake-up call for governments and international organizations. It highlights the need for bold, coordinated action to address food affordability and promote nutrition security. Policymakers must prioritize evidence-based policies, invest in initiatives that support small-scale farmers and local food systems, and commit to addressing the root causes of this crisis.
Ultimately, the fate of those struggling with hunger hangs in the balance. Will we continue down a path of incremental progress or seize the opportunity to make meaningful change? The world is watching – and waiting for action.
Reader Views
- CSCorrespondent S. Tan · field correspondent
The irony that despite billions struggling to access nutritious food, we've seen a concurrent rise in adult obesity rates globally. One possible explanation lies not just in government policies but also in supply chain dynamics. How can a healthy diet be affordable when the majority of calories produced worldwide are devoted to staple crops like wheat and rice, rather than fruits and vegetables? This imbalance perpetuates a vicious cycle where cheap, high-calorie foods become the norm, exacerbating chronic diseases and further straining healthcare systems.
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
The global food crisis is often framed as a moral failing of governments and individuals, but what about the systemic failures that make healthy eating a luxury? The World Health Organization's emphasis on individual responsibility for obesity rates distracts from the fundamental issue: the cost of nutritious food is often higher than the minimum wage. A more pressing question should be how to break this cycle by investing in sustainable agriculture and making whole foods affordable for all, rather than perpetuating cheap, processed options that exacerbate hunger and disease.
- EKEditor K. Wells · editor
The $4.28 daily threshold for a healthy diet might be the most jarring figure in this report. But what's often overlooked is that even if individuals somehow managed to scrape together this amount, there's still the issue of food quality and availability in their local markets. The article mentions policies favoring staples over diverse diets, but it doesn't explore the consequences of relying on industrial agriculture for these staples: the degradation of soil health, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity that comes with large-scale monoculture farming.