Africa has overtaken Asia as the continent with the highest number of people facing hunger for the first time, according to a new United Nations report released on Tuesday.
The report, jointly published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and four other UN agencies, found that 309 million people in Africa suffered from hunger in 2025, representing 20 per cent of the continent’s population.
By comparison, 292 million people in Asia, or about six per cent of its population, were affected by hunger during the same period.
The UN said the findings reflect a shift in the global hunger landscape despite gradual progress in reducing hunger worldwide.
“The centre of gravity of hunger has shifted from Asia to Africa,” Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the FAO, David Laborde, said.
