UN Report: One in Three People Cannot Afford a Healthy Diet

A recent UN report has revealed that one in three people worldwide, approximately 2.69 billion individuals, cannot afford a diet that is both nutritious and diverse. This finding has sparked urgent calls for action to improve food affordability as achieving the global goal of zero hunger by 2030 remains a challenging task, according to the annual report from five UN agencies.

Hunger declined for the third consecutive year in 2025, affecting 7.8% of the global population, down from 8.1% in 2024. There are indications that the increasing trend of hunger in Africa may be slowing. However, the report highlights that the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet remains alarmingly high, as noted by Maximo Torero, chief economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report estimates that the cost of a healthy diet is equivalent to 4.28 purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars per day, which is higher than the extreme poverty line of $3 PPP per person. Torero pointed out that government policies have generally focused on subsidizing staple foods such as cereals, neglecting more nutrient-rich options like meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. This has contributed to diets that provide calories but lack diversity, leading to rising rates of obesity and related diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

The World Health Organization reported that adult obesity rates increased from 12.1% in 2012 to 16.2% in 2024. Torero emphasized the urgency of addressing this health crisis and called for investments in infrastructure, research, and development. He suggested that improving supply chain efficiency could lower the costs of healthier food options.

In Africa, where the population unable to afford a healthy diet reached 66.6% in 2025, the continent has surpassed Asia with the highest number of hungry individuals, totaling about 309 million. This increase is primarily attributed to rapid population growth. Torero noted that for the first time in years, the proportion of people experiencing hunger is declining.

The report authors include the FAO, WHO, UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Torero expressed concern that shipping restrictions due to the conflict in the Middle East may affect next year’s hunger figures.