Category: Humanitarian issues

According to the World Health Organization, hunger is the single gravest threat to the world's public health, illustrating the catastrophic consequences of what happens when there is not enough food. This issue triggers a cascade of devastating effects, impacting individuals, communities, and global stability.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Africa has the highest prevalence of hunger, with almost 20% of its population affected in 2022. While other continents contend with hunger, Africa’s pervasively high rates make it the most afflicted continent in terms of prevalence.

According to the World Health Organization, hunger is one of the gravest global public health threats, with undernutrition contributing to nearly half of all child deaths under five. To suffer from starvation means to experience a severe and prolonged deficiency of caloric intake, forcing the body to consume its own tissues for survival.

Recent reports indicate millions are on the brink of famine primarily due to conflict and climate change, highlighting the growing crisis that makes achieving Zero Hunger a distant reality. Determining which single country is most affected by Zero Hunger is complex, as the answer depends on whether one measures the total number of people affected or the prevalence rate within the population.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that malnutrition is the biggest contributor to child mortality, and yes, starvation is a form of malnutrition. Specifically, starvation represents the most severe and extreme form of undernutrition, a category of malnutrition.

According to estimates compiled by the World Population Review in 2025, over 51% of Somalia's population suffered from some degree of malnutrition in 2021-23, making it the country with the highest malnutrition rate in the world. The situation is not static, and rates fluctuate due to complex factors like conflict and climate change.