What percentage of the country is food insecure? A global and U.S. breakdown

December 18, 2025 •

3 min read

In 2024, approximately 28% of the global population faced moderate or severe food insecurity, highlighting a persistent challenge that affects billions worldwide. Understanding what percentage of the country is food insecure requires examining different scales, from global figures to regional and national statistics.

Quick Summary

Recent data shows that 28% of the global population is food insecure, while 13.5% of U.S. households struggled with food access in 2023. Rates vary significantly by region, race, and income level, driven by factors like conflict, climate change, and economic volatility.

Key Points

Global Context: In 2024, approximately 28% of the world's population faced moderate or severe food insecurity, translating to nearly 2.3 billion people.
U.S. Statistics: In 2023, 13.5% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity, with 47.4 million Americans affected.
Significant Disparities: Food insecurity is disproportionately high among certain U.S. demographic groups, including Black and Latinx households, and in rural areas.
Key Drivers: Major causes include armed conflict, climate change, and economic shocks like inflation, which diminish household purchasing power.
Serious Impacts: The consequences of food insecurity extend to health, with higher risks of chronic diseases, mental health issues, and developmental delays, especially in children.
Regional Variations: While some regions like parts of Asia and Latin America have seen improvements, food insecurity is on the rise in Africa and Western Asia.
Future Data Concerns: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) terminated its annual Household Food Security Report, creating uncertainty for future data tracking.

Global Perspective on Food Insecurity

According to the 2025 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, an estimated 28% of the global population experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2024. This figure represents nearly 2.3 billion people lacking regular access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food. While global hunger has slightly decreased, food insecurity remains significantly above pre-pandemic levels. Regional trends show dramatic differences.

Regional Variations in Global Food Security

Africa has the highest proportion of its population facing hunger. Food insecurity has worsened in most of Africa and Western Asia, while some progress is seen in Latin America and parts of Asia. Asia still accounts for over half of the world's food-insecure population. Conflict zones, such as Gaza and Sudan, face catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity.

U.S. Household Food Insecurity

In the United States, 13.5% of households were food insecure in 2023, according to USDA data. This means about 47.4 million people, including 13.8 million children, lived in food-insecure households. Rates vary by demographics and geography. Black and Latinx households faced more than double the rates of White non-Latinx households in 2023. Rural areas also tend to have higher rates. The USDA's annual Household Food Security Report has been terminated, which may impact future national data availability.

Disparities in Food Insecurity within the U.S.

Food insecurity affects different groups within the U.S. unequally due to several factors:

Income Level: Households below 185% of the poverty threshold are disproportionately affected.
Race and Ethnicity: Black, Latinx, and American Indian households experience higher rates.
Household Composition: Single-parent households, particularly those led by women, face significantly higher rates.
Geography: The South and rural/urban areas often have higher rates than suburbs.

Core Causes of Food Insecurity

Food insecurity stems from several interconnected root causes. Addressing these is vital for progress.

Conflict and Instability: Conflict disrupts food systems and displaces populations.
Economic Shocks: Inflation and high food prices reduce the purchasing power of low-income households.
Climate Change and Weather Extremes: Climate events destroy crops and disrupt agricultural livelihoods.
Poverty and Inequality: Extreme poverty limits access to essential resources.
Inadequate Infrastructure: Poor storage and transportation lead to food waste and distribution problems.

Comparison of Global and U.S. Food Insecurity


Feature	Global Food Insecurity (2024)	U.S. Food Insecurity (2023)
Overall Prevalence (Moderate/Severe)	Approx. 28% of the population	13.5% of households
Total Number Affected	Nearly 2.3 billion people	47.4 million people in households
Severe Food Insecurity	Approx. 10.7% of the population	5.1% of households
Primary Drivers	Conflict, climate change, economic shocks	Economic instability, high living costs
Measurement Tools	Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)	USDA's Household Food Security Survey

The Devastating Effects of Food Insecurity

The consequences of food insecurity impact health, education, and well-being.

Health Impacts

Malnutrition and Chronic Illnesses: Increased risk of malnutrition and conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Mental Health: Associated with depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Can lead to suicidal ideation in adolescents.
Stunting and Development: Severe early childhood malnutrition can cause irreversible stunting and cognitive defects.

Socioeconomic Consequences

Reduced Productivity and Income: Malnutrition lowers physical and mental productivity, potentially trapping individuals in poverty.
Social and Educational Issues: Can cause social isolation and shame. In children, it may lead to poor concentration and missed school.

How Can We Address This Issue?

Addressing food insecurity requires comprehensive strategies involving government, communities, and international cooperation.

Solutions and Strategies

Strengthening Social Safety Nets: Programs like SNAP and similar global schemes increase food access for vulnerable groups.
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture: Investing in resilient farming practices can boost food production, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions.
Addressing Economic Drivers: Policies to tackle inflation and inequality reduce financial stress.
Humanitarian Aid and Intervention: Critical for preventing famine in crisis areas. For further information, visit the World Food Programme.

Conclusion

What percentage of the country is food insecure varies globally, but the 2024 global figure of 28% facing moderate or severe food insecurity underscores the issue's widespread nature. Despite progress in some areas, challenges like conflict, climate change, and economic disparities continue to raise rates elsewhere. Tackling food insecurity demands coordinated efforts, from strong governmental programs to international aid and investment in sustainable solutions, to work towards a future with adequate food for all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Food insecurity is the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. It can range from moderate, where a person is uncertain about their ability to get food, to severe, where a person has run out of food and gone without eating.

Hunger is a physical sensation of discomfort, while food insecurity refers to the lack of access to food due to financial or other constraints. A person can be food insecure without feeling hungry, though prolonged food insecurity can lead to hunger and malnutrition.

Africa is the region with the largest proportion of its population facing hunger, but due to its large population, Asia is home to more than half of the world’s total food-insecure people. Western Asia has also seen a recent rise in food insecurity.

The main drivers of food crises include armed conflicts, economic shocks such as high inflation and currency devaluation, and climate extremes like droughts and floods.

Climate change exacerbates food insecurity by increasing the frequency and intensity of weather extremes like floods and droughts, which destroy crops, disrupt livelihoods, and increase food prices.

Food insecurity can lead to higher rates of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, poor mental health outcomes including depression and anxiety, and developmental delays in children due to malnutrition.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) terminated its annual Household Food Security Reports, which had provided key data for 27 years. This decision was criticized for halting crucial data collection on domestic hunger.

Policymakers can strengthen social safety net programs, invest in sustainable agriculture and infrastructure, and implement policies that address economic inequalities and mitigate the effects of climate change.