Which of the following is the #1 cause of chronic hunger in the world?

November 17, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Action Against Hunger, nearly one in eleven people worldwide goes to bed hungry, but pinpointing the single #1 cause of chronic hunger in the world is challenging due to a complex web of interconnected factors.

Quick Summary

Chronic hunger is driven by a complex interplay of conflict, climate change, and poverty. These interconnected issues disrupt food systems, displace populations, and keep nutritious food out of reach for millions.

Key Points

Conflict is a primary driver: Violence and instability are consistently cited as the leading causes of acute food insecurity, which quickly leads to chronic hunger.
Poverty is a root cause: Extreme poverty is inextricably linked to chronic hunger, as millions simply cannot afford access to nutritious food, clean water, or healthcare.
Climate change exacerbates hunger: Extreme weather events like droughts and floods destroy crops and livelihoods, pushing vulnerable populations deeper into food insecurity.
Multiple factors create a complex web: Chronic hunger is not caused by a single issue but by a dangerous synergy between conflict, poverty, climate change, inequality, and poor governance.
Solutions require a multi-faceted approach: Addressing chronic hunger means investing in sustainable agriculture, strengthening social protection, and tackling the root causes of conflict and climate change.
Chronic vs. acute hunger differs: Chronic hunger is a long-term state of undernourishment, whereas acute hunger is triggered by sudden crises, though the two are often linked.

The Intertwined Reality of Chronic Hunger

The question of which factor is the number one cause of chronic hunger is, at its core, a trick question. The reality is that no single factor operates in isolation. Instead, chronic hunger is the result of a dangerous synergy between multiple crises. While one factor might be the most prevalent trigger in a specific region, such as conflict in Gaza or Sudan, it will be deeply entangled with other issues like poverty and climate shocks. This complex web prevents easy answers and requires a multi-faceted approach to solving the crisis.

The Vicious Cycle of Poverty

For many years, poverty was seen as the most direct cause of chronic hunger. The logic is simple: a person or a family without enough money cannot afford healthy food, clean water, or healthcare. This lack of resources leads to a devastating cycle. Undernourished individuals are less productive, more susceptible to disease, and thus have fewer opportunities to earn a better living. In turn, this perpetuates poverty across generations, as malnourished mothers often give birth to underweight, unhealthy babies who face lifelong health challenges. The concentration of this problem is particularly acute in rural areas, where three-quarters of all chronically hungry people reside.

Conflict as a Force Multiplier

In recent years, humanitarian organizations like the World Food Programme have increasingly identified conflict as the primary driver of acute food insecurity, which can easily lead to chronic hunger. The impact is immediate and devastating:

Displacement: Conflict forces families to flee their homes and farms, leaving their livelihoods behind and becoming reliant on unstable aid.
System Destruction: War destroys critical infrastructure, including roads, markets, and food processing facilities, crippling the supply chain.
Economic Collapse: When violence erupts, it drives inflation, destabilizes markets, and causes jobs to be lost, making food unaffordable for many.
Weaponization of Hunger: In some cases, hunger is used as a deliberate weapon of war, with aid blocked and food supplies plundered.

Climate Change: A Growing Threat

Climate change is rapidly emerging as another top driver, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. Extreme weather events, including prolonged droughts, devastating floods, and unpredictable storms, directly impact agricultural production. For smallholder farmers who make up a large portion of the world's food producers, these climate shocks can wipe out entire harvests and livestock, plunging them into deeper poverty and hunger. As the climate crisis intensifies, it will continue to undermine global food security, making the fight against chronic hunger even more difficult.

Comparison Table: Causes of Chronic vs. Acute Hunger

To understand the dynamics at play, it's helpful to distinguish between chronic and acute hunger, though the line between them is often blurred.


Feature	Chronic Hunger	Acute Hunger	Source
Definition	Long-term undernourishment due to inadequate food intake.	Under-nourishment over a definable, often short, period of time.	Welthungerhilfe
Primary Cause(s)	Persistent poverty, inequality, weak systems.	Sudden crises like war, extreme weather, economic shocks.	Welthungerhilfe
Affected Population	Varies, often those living in extreme poverty.	Frequently affects those already experiencing chronic hunger.	Welthungerhilfe
Media Focus	Less media attention despite being more widespread.	Often highlighted by media during emergencies.	Welthungerhilfe
Typical Setting	Can occur anywhere but strongest in rural areas.	Often connected with crises like droughts, wars.	Welthungerhilfe

A Global Web of Interconnected Issues

Beyond the three primary drivers, several other factors intensify the crisis of chronic hunger:

Inequality and Discrimination: Power imbalances and discrimination, particularly against women and certain ethnic groups, determine who has access to food and who doesn't. Women, who often manage farms and families, face a double burden and have limited access to resources.
Weak Governance: Corruption, political instability, and a lack of sound strategies to support domestic agriculture can prevent the needs of the poorest from being addressed.
Lack of Access to Clean Water: Without access to clean water and proper sanitation, illnesses like diarrhea and parasites can prevent the body from absorbing nutrients, leading to malnutrition even if food is available.
Biased Global Trade: Unfair trade agreements and subsidies often benefit corporations from industrialized nations, while developing countries that primarily export raw materials see little of the profits, hindering investment in their own food security.

The Path to Zero Hunger: Beyond the 'Number One' Cause

Eradicating chronic hunger requires tackling the root causes in a coordinated, multi-dimensional way. It is not enough to focus on a single aspect when the problem is so deeply systemic. The path forward includes:

Investing in Sustainable Agriculture: Supporting small-scale farmers with better resources, technology, and access to markets can increase productivity and improve livelihoods.
Strengthening Social Protection: Programs that safeguard access to food, especially for vulnerable groups like children and the elderly, are critical for survival and long-term development.
Promoting Peaceful and Inclusive Societies: Addressing the root causes of conflict and ensuring peaceful, inclusive societies is vital to prevent displacement and economic devastation.
Combating Climate Change: Investing in renewable energy and building resilience to climate shocks can protect agricultural systems and the livelihoods that depend on them.
Empowering Women: Ensuring women have equal access to education, land, and financial services can significantly improve food security for families and communities.

Conclusion: No Simple Answer, But a Clear Path Forward

While there is no single answer to the question "Which of the following is the #1 cause of chronic hunger in the world?", search results consistently highlight conflict, poverty, and climate change as the most influential and destructive drivers. These factors do not exist in isolation but reinforce one another in a deadly cycle that traps millions in food insecurity. Solving the problem requires acknowledging this complexity and addressing all contributing issues simultaneously. It necessitates global cooperation, significant investment, and a commitment to justice and sustainability to create a world where no one has to go to bed hungry. Addressing conflict and inequality, while building resilience against climate change and poverty, represents the only viable path to achieving Zero Hunger by 2030. For more information, visit the UN World Food Programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chronic hunger is a long-term state of undernourishment, often caused by persistent poverty. Acute hunger, or famine, is a more severe, short-term crisis triggered by events like war or natural disaster and can affect people already experiencing chronic hunger.

Climate change leads to extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. These events destroy crops, kill livestock, and disrupt agricultural livelihoods, which directly pushes people into deeper poverty and chronic food insecurity.

Conflict drives hunger by forcing people to flee their homes, destroying critical food infrastructure, disrupting markets, and making food too expensive or impossible to obtain. It can also be used as a weapon of war.

Poverty creates a cycle of hunger because it prevents individuals from affording healthy food, clean water, and healthcare. Malnourished people are less productive and more prone to illness, which limits their ability to earn a better living, trapping them and their children in poverty.

Chronic hunger can have devastating, lifelong effects on children, including stunted growth, compromised organ function, weakened immune systems, and chronic diseases. It can also cause developmental delays and lower academic performance.

While global food waste is a significant problem, and reducing it is a critical part of the solution, it is not considered the single number one cause. Hunger is more complexly tied to issues of access, affordability, and distribution, which are profoundly affected by conflict, poverty, and climate change.

Poor governance, corruption, and a lack of supportive agricultural policies can severely hinder a country's ability to ensure food security for its population. Conversely, good governance and strategic investment are key to reducing hunger.