Which country has the least food and why is food scarcity complex?

December 6, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the latest Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2025, over 295 million people globally experienced acute levels of hunger in 2024, revealing that the question of 'which country has the least food?' has a complex and dynamic answer. Severe food insecurity is not determined by a single country but by a collection of overlapping crises driven by conflict, economic shocks, and climate extremes.

Quick Summary

Answering which country suffers most from food insecurity requires reviewing current humanitarian and economic data. Conflict-affected regions, including Sudan, Gaza, and South Sudan, consistently report alarming hunger levels, while economic volatility and climate shocks worsen conditions globally.

Key Points

Not a Single Country: The issue isn't about which single country has the least food, but rather which countries have the highest rates of severe food insecurity.
Conflict is a Primary Driver: Ongoing conflicts in countries like Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are major contributors to widespread food crises.
Economic Shocks Exacerbate Hunger: Inflation and high food prices, particularly in countries like Yemen and Nigeria, make it difficult for populations to afford food.
Climate Change Worsens Conditions: Extreme weather, including drought and floods, significantly impacts food production and contributes to food insecurity in vulnerable regions.
Measuring Food Insecurity is Complex: The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) provides a standardized scale to measure the severity of hunger, indicating a nuanced rather than absolute problem.
Specific Hotspots Exist: Reports identify several 'hunger hotspots' like Sudan, Gaza, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali where conditions are particularly dire.

Understanding the Metrics of Food Scarcity

When asking "which country has the least food?", the answer is not as simple as a single name. Global food security is measured by international bodies like the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which assesses the severity of food insecurity, ranging from Minimal (Phase 1) to Catastrophe/Famine (Phase 5). Organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and Action Against Hunger then report on these findings, highlighting the most severely affected regions and populations. These reports reveal that a few critical hotspots, often driven by a mix of conflict and climate issues, face the most dire situations.

The Top Hunger Hotspots in 2024–2025

Recent assessments identify several countries and regions with critical or catastrophic levels of food insecurity. These hotspots are home to millions facing severe hunger and potential famine. The drivers of these crises are complex and often interconnected.

Key Countries Facing Acute Food Insecurity

Several nations are facing particularly severe food insecurity in 2024–2025 due to a combination of factors. These include:

Sudan: Conflict has caused mass displacement and restricted access to essential resources, leading to famine in some areas by August 2025.
Gaza Strip: Ongoing conflict has resulted in famine and severe food insecurity for nearly the entire population.
South Sudan: Conflict, displacement, and flooding have left more than half the population acutely food insecure.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Conflict and inadequate infrastructure contribute to over a quarter of the population being in crisis.
Haiti: Political instability, violence, and economic crisis have pushed over half the population into hunger.
Mali: Conflict, climate shocks, and displacement are causing severe malnutrition.
Yemen: Decades of conflict and economic collapse have resulted in a severe food crisis affecting millions.

Drivers of Acute Food Insecurity

Food crises are not accidental but are the result of several underlying factors working in tandem. The primary drivers identified in recent reports are:

Conflict and Insecurity: This consistently leads to severe food crises by disrupting food systems, infrastructure, and aid delivery.
Economic Shocks: High inflation and rising prices make food unaffordable for vulnerable populations.
Climate Extremes: Events like droughts and floods devastate agriculture.
Forced Displacement: Fleeing violence often leaves people without access to food and resources.

Comparison of Major Food Crises (Based on 2024/2025 Data)


Country	Primary Driver(s)	Peak Number of People Facing High Acute Food Insecurity (2024)	Notes
Nigeria	Conflict, Economic Shocks	31.8 million	Widespread conflict, economic downturn, and high food prices.
Sudan	Conflict, Economic Shocks, Climate	25.6 million	Ongoing war and climate issues have led to famine declaration.
Dem. Rep. Congo	Conflict, Economic Shocks	25.6 million	Protracted conflict and displacement in eastern regions.
Bangladesh	Economic Shocks, Climate Extremes	23.6 million	Economic fragility combined with climate change impacts.
Ethiopia	Conflict, Climate Extremes	22.0 million	Drought, conflict, and economic issues worsen the situation.
Yemen	Conflict, Economic Shocks	16.7 million	A decade of war has decimated infrastructure and the economy.

Global Efforts and Challenges

Organizations like the WFP and Action Against Hunger provide crucial aid, but face challenges from limited funding, restricted access, climate change impacts, and economic volatility.

Conclusion

The question "Which country has the least food?" highlights a complex issue of severe food insecurity affecting millions globally. While countries like Sudan, Gaza, South Sudan, and the DRC face critical challenges, the problem is widespread and driven by conflict, economic instability, and climate change. A coordinated global response addressing these factors is essential for sustainable food security. For more detailed information on global efforts, visit the World Food Programme website. The World Food Programme

Frequently Asked Questions

Food scarcity refers to the physical lack of food, while food insecurity is a broader measure that includes the inability of people to access or afford food, even if it is physically available. A country can be food secure even if it imports most of its food, as long as its citizens have reliable access through stable economies.

The IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) scale is a five-phase system used to measure the severity of food crises. Phase 1 is Minimal, Phase 2 is Stressed, Phase 3 is Crisis, Phase 4 is Emergency, and Phase 5 is Catastrophe/Famine.

Conflict is a primary driver of food shortages. It disrupts agricultural production, destroys infrastructure, displaces people from their homes and livelihoods, and hinders the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected populations.

Climate change impacts food availability through extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts, which cause crop failures, and floods, which destroy harvests and land. These events disproportionately affect regions reliant on rain-fed agriculture.

No, while some countries are consistently identified as severe hunger hotspots, food insecurity is a global issue. Many factors can influence a country's food security, and crises can develop or worsen rapidly due to new conflicts, economic changes, or climate events.

Economic shocks, including high inflation and currency devaluation, decrease the purchasing power of households. This means that even if food is available in the markets, a significant portion of the population may not be able to afford it, leading to widespread hunger.

The GRFC is a collaborative annual report published by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) that provides a consensus-based assessment of acute food insecurity and malnutrition in countries experiencing food crises. It is a key reference for humanitarian and development actions.