Healthy diet too expensive for one in three people globally, UN report finds.

Global hunger continues to decline.

The latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 reports encouraging progress in reducing hunger worldwide. In 2025, 7.8% of the global population experienced hunger, compared with 8.1% in 2024, marking the third consecutive annual decline. The report also notes that Africa’s long-standing increase in hunger is beginning to stabilize. Nevertheless, UN agencies caution that achieving the Zero Hunger goal by 2030 will still require substantial international efforts.

Healthy diets remain beyond reach.

Although hunger has decreased, access to nutritious food continues to be a major challenge. The report estimates that 2.69 billion people, roughly one in three worldwide, cannot afford a healthy diet that provides sufficient energy and nutrients. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the average cost of a healthy diet is 4.28 purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars per day, exceeding the international extreme poverty threshold. Consequently, many households rely on inexpensive staple foods while lacking adequate fruit, vegetables, dairy products, and other nutrient-rich foods.

Nutrition policies need to change.

The report argues that many governments continue prioritizing subsidies for cereals and starchy foods instead of promoting diverse and balanced diets. As a result, calorie intake may improve without addressing nutritional quality. Furthermore, adult obesity has increased globally, rising from 12.1% in 2012 to 16.2% in 2024, highlighting the growing burden of diet-related diseases. Therefore, the UN recommends investing in agricultural research, stronger food supply chains, and policies that improve both the availability and affordability of healthier foods.

Regional inequalities remain significant.

Large disparities persist across regions. In Africa, 66.6% of the population could not afford a healthy diet in 2025, more than twice the proportion recorded in Asia or Latin America and the Caribbean. The continent is now home to approximately 309 million people experiencing hunger, surpassing Asia’s 292 million. In addition, the report warns that global events, including shipping disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, could further increase food prices and affect food security in the coming years.

Reference

Lay, K. (2026, July 21). Healthy diet too expensive for one in three people globally, UN report finds. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jul/21/healthy-diet-too-expensive-for-one-in-three-people-globally-un-report-finds