Why Has Undernourishment Increased? The Crisis Explained

November 30, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the United Nations, the number of people experiencing hunger globally has increased by approximately 122 million since 2019. This alarming reversal of progress raises the urgent question: why has undernourishment increased, undoing years of steady decline?

Quick Summary

Undernourishment has increased significantly worldwide, reversing a decade-long trend. This is primarily fueled by a "polycrisis" of climate change, economic shocks, and conflict, exacerbated by the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing this complex issue requires a coordinated global effort.

Key Points

Conflict is a Primary Driver: Warfare and civil insecurity are major causes of rising undernourishment, displacing millions and disrupting food production.
Climate Change Worsens Food Insecurity: Extreme weather events and long-term climate shifts are devastating agriculture and increasing vulnerability, especially in high-risk regions.
Economic Shocks Reduce Food Access: Inflation, recessions, and income losses make healthy diets unaffordable for millions, pushing more people into hunger.
COVID-19 Had Lasting Effects: The pandemic exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, disrupted supply chains, and triggered economic downturns that increased hunger.
Inequality Drives Differential Impacts: Undernourishment disproportionately affects vulnerable groups like women, children, and marginalized communities who have fewer resources to cope.
Systemic Issues Undermine Progress: A combination of systemic inequities, poor governance, and weak food systems amplifies the impact of global crises.

The Perfect Storm: A Convergence of Crises

Global progress against hunger has dangerously reversed, with the increase in undernourishment driven by a complex interplay of overlapping crises. This "polycrisis" primarily involves conflict, climate change, and economic shocks, all intensified by the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Unrelenting Force of Conflict

Conflict is a major cause of food insecurity and malnutrition, disrupting food systems in multiple ways. It leads to:

Disrupted Food Production: Conflict prevents farming and destroys essential agricultural infrastructure.
Supply Chain Collapse: Transportation routes and markets are disrupted, hindering food distribution.
Mass Displacement: People fleeing conflict lose their livelihoods and depend on aid, straining resources.
Using Starvation as a Weapon: In some cases, food and aid are deliberately blocked.

The Destructive Hand of Climate Change

Climate change is actively destabilizing food systems globally, with vulnerable communities facing the worst impacts. Key effects include:

Extreme Weather Events: Increased droughts, floods, and storms destroy crops and livestock.
Long-Term Weather Pattern Shifts: Changes in rainfall and rising temperatures reduce crop yields and damage fertile land.
Increased Pests and Diseases: Warmer climates can lead to more crop destruction from pests and diseases.

The Unpredictable Jolt of Economic Shocks

Economic instability directly impacts food access, making nutritious food unaffordable for the vulnerable. Recent shocks include:

Inflation: Rising food, fuel, and fertilizer prices decrease the purchasing power of low-income households.
Economic Downturns and Recessions: Job losses and reduced incomes during events like the COVID-19 pandemic force people to reduce food intake or opt for less nutritious options.
Currency Devaluation: This makes imported food and agricultural supplies more expensive.

Comparison of Key Drivers of Undernourishment


Factor	Mechanism	Primary Impact	Duration	Recent Examples
Conflict	Disruption of production, trade routes, markets; displacement; weaponization of food.	Loss of livelihoods and food access; mass displacement; infrastructure destruction.	Often protracted, with long-term consequences.	Sudan, Gaza Strip, Yemen, Haiti
Climate Change	Extreme weather events (droughts, floods); long-term shifts (temperature, rainfall).	Reduced agricultural yields; crop failure; destruction of assets; water scarcity.	Increasingly frequent and long-lasting, with gradual effects.	Horn of Africa droughts; Southern Asia floods
Economic Shocks	Price inflation (food, fuel); job losses; currency devaluation; income volatility.	Reduced purchasing power; inability to afford food; shift to less nutritious diets.	Can be sudden and widespread, with prolonged recovery.	COVID-19 pandemic-induced recession; war in Ukraine
COVID-19 Pandemic	Lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, income loss, reduced remittances.	Exacerbated existing vulnerabilities; increased food prices; overwhelmed health systems.	Heightened initial impact, with significant lasting socioeconomic fallout.	Global rise in food insecurity from 2019

The Compounding Effect of Systemic Inequality

The impacts of these crises are not felt equally, with systemic inequalities making certain groups, such as women, children, and marginalized communities, particularly vulnerable. Inequitable food systems, poor governance, and inadequate social support systems worsen the effects of every crisis.

Conclusion: A Global Challenge Requiring Coordinated Action

The rise in undernourishment signals a global system under severe stress. The combination of conflict, climate change, and economic shocks, amplified by the pandemic, creates a damaging cycle. Tackling hunger requires addressing the root causes of instability and inequity, not just increasing food production. A coordinated global approach focusing on conflict prevention, climate resilience, and fair economic policies is vital to reverse this trend and build sustainable food systems.

How to Build a More Resilient Global Food System

Strengthen Social Safety Nets: Expand programs to protect vulnerable households from economic shocks.
Promote Sustainable Agriculture: Invest in farming methods that are efficient and resilient to climate change.
Improve Access to Financing: Help farmers in developing countries access affordable credit.
Invest in Conflict Prevention: Prioritize diplomatic efforts to prevent conflict due to its major impact on food security.
Reform Global Trade Systems: Address trade imbalances that can increase food prices and harm local economies.
Empower Local Communities: Support local food systems and provide resources to small-scale farmers.

World Bank Group: Addressing Food Security and Climate Change

The Broader Impact of Increased Undernourishment

The human and economic consequences of undernourishment are significant. It harms physical and mental health, impedes child development, increases disease susceptibility, and perpetuates poverty, ultimately hindering sustainable development.

Frequently Asked Questions

The increase in undernourishment is not due to one single cause, but a complex combination of overlapping crises. Key drivers include conflict, climate change, and economic shocks, all worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic's lasting effects.

Climate change contributes to undernourishment through extreme weather events like floods and droughts that destroy crops and livestock. It also causes long-term shifts in weather patterns that reduce agricultural yields and increase water scarcity, harming food production.

Conflict disrupts every aspect of the food system. It forces people to abandon farms, destroys agricultural infrastructure, blocks food supply routes, and displaces entire populations, which increases their dependence on external aid.

Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased undernourishment by triggering economic downturns, job losses, and supply chain disruptions. This reduced household purchasing power and food access, especially for the poorest households.

Addressing the rise in undernourishment is challenging because of the interconnected nature of the underlying issues. The crises of conflict, climate change, and economic instability reinforce each other, and they impact different populations unevenly due to systemic inequalities.

Solutions include strengthening social safety nets, investing in climate-resilient agriculture, promoting conflict prevention, and reforming global food trade systems. Empowering local communities and addressing systemic inequalities are also crucial.

Inflation, particularly rising food and fuel prices, reduces the purchasing power of vulnerable households. With less money, they cannot afford a nutritious diet, forcing them to eat less or switch to cheaper, less healthy foods.