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SDG Indicators Data Portal

SDG 02 - Zero Hunger
Indicator 2.1.1 - Prevalence of undernourishment

The prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) is an estimate of the proportion of the population whose habitual food consumption is insufficient to provide the dietary energy levels that are required to maintain a normal active and healthy life. It is expressed as a percentage. This indicator will measure progress towards SDG Target 2.1.

Target 2.1

By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.

Indicator 2.1.1: Progress Assessment
Impact

The PoU offers countries a measure to track progress made in stamping out hunger in a way consistent with the past. Together with indicator 2.1.2, this is ideal for evidence-based policymaking to ensure no one and no area is left behind and to bring the global hunger figure down to zero.

Undernourishment means that a person is not able to acquire enough food to meet the daily minimum dietary energy requirements, over a period of one year. FAO defines hunger as being synonymous with chronic undernourishment.

Key results

New global estimates of hunger for 2025 confirm sustained, gradual improvement since 2022. An estimated 7.8 percent of the global population faced hunger in 2025, down from 8.1 percent in 2024 and 8.6 percent in 2022.

It is estimated that between 608 and 696 million people in the world, corresponding to 7.4 and 8.5 percent of the global population, respectively, faced hunger in 2025. Considering the point estimate of 645 million in 2025, this indicates a decrease of about 14 million people compared to 2024 and 43 million compared to 2022.

In 2025, hunger affected 309 million people in Africa, 292 million in Asia and 32 million in Latin America and the Caribbean – 20.0, 6.0 and 4.8 percent of the population, respectively. Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean have shown steady progress in recent years, and new estimates for Africa point to a halt in a prolonged upward trend in hunger.

By 2030, the global number of undernourished people is expected to decrease by 20 percent, but it is still projected that between 510 and 520 million people will be facing hunger, of whom 56 percent will be in Africa. Recent events, including the 2026 Middle East conflict, are threatening to undermine progress towards SDG Target 2.1 through their impact on Africa and Asia.

Highlights
Elearning
SDG Indicator 2.1.1 - Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU)
02/06/2023

This course focuses on SDG Indicator 2.1.1, which is one of two indicators that focus on food insecurity. The PoU is an estimate of the proportion...

E-learning courses on SDG indicators (with digital badge certification)
01/05/2023

Multimedia
SDG 2 – Indicators of hunger and severity of food insecurity
01/01/2019

An overview of SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2, measuring hunger and severity of food insecurity. 

Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators (2022)
01/09/2022

Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators offers detailed analyses and trends on selected indicators for which...

Capacity development

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Bamako (Mali)
26/02/2024 - 01/03/2024

Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Maputo (Mozambique)
11/12/2023 - 15/12/2023

Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Lusaka (Zambia)
27/11/2023 - 30/11/2023

Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Islamabad (Pakistan)
20/11/2023 - 24/11/2023

Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Amman (Jordan)
19/11/2023 - 23/11/2023

Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Dodoma (United Republic of Tanzania)
06/11/2023 - 11/11/2023

Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Dili (Timor-Leste)
06/11/2023 - 10/11/2023

Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Astana (Kazakhstan)
28/09/2023 - 22/09/2023

Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Blantyre (Malawi)
18/09/2023 - 22/09/2023

Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Dar Es Salaam (United Republic of Tanzania)
04/06/2023 - 10/06/2023

Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

Virtual Event

Remote workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
01/03/2023 - 30/03/2023

FAO is conducting a remote workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 Prevalence of Undernourishment and 2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity,...

National workshop on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in Chisinau (Moldova)
28/02/2023 - 09/12/2023

Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG indicators 2.1.1 and 2.1.2