State Of Food Security And Nutrition In The World 2024:
The “State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024” (SOFI 2024) report, published by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO, presents a critical analysis of global food security and nutrition trends.
- This year’s report emphasises the urgent need for increased financing to end hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in all its forms.
Key Findings of the SOFI 2024 Report:
- Between 713 and 757 million people faced hunger in 2023, with one out of eleven people in the world and one out of every five in Africa facing hunger.
- Asia, despite having a lower percentage, still harbours the largest number of undernourished people (384.5 million).
- Approximately 2.33 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023.
- Severe food insecurity affected more than 864 million people globally.
- The global average cost of a healthy diet rose to USD 3.96 in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms per person per day in 2022.
- Despite this increase, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet fell to 2.83 billion in 2022.
- The cost of a healthy diet is highest in Latin America and the Caribbean and lowest in Oceania. The recovery in affordability has been uneven, with significant setbacks in Africa.
- There have been improvements in reducing the prevalence of stunting and wasting among children under five. However, progress is insufficient to meet the 2030 (SDG) targets.
- The rate of exclusive breastfeeding among infants under six months has increased but is still below the 2030 target.
- Obesity rates are rising globally, and anaemia in women aged 15 to 49 years is increasing, posing significant public health challenges.
- Public spending on food security and nutrition remains inadequate, particularly in low-income countries. Private financing flows are also difficult to track, exacerbating the funding gap.
- India is home to 194.6 million undernourished individuals, the highest in the world.
- The number of undernourished people has decreased from 240 million in the 2004-06 period to the current figure.
- 55.6% of Indians, translating to 790 million people, cannot afford a healthy diet.
- This proportion has improved by about 3% points compared to 2022.
- 13% of India’s population suffers from chronic undernourishment, indicating prolonged food insecurity.
- India has the highest prevalence of wasting (18.7%) in South Asia and a high prevalence of stunting (31.7%) in children under five years.
- 27.4% of babies born in India have low birth weight, the highest in the world, reflecting maternal malnutrition.
- 53% of women in India are anaemic, the highest in South Asia. The global prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 is expected to increase, driven significantly by South Asia.
- The prevalence of obesity in children under five years is 2.8%, and in adults, it has risen to 7.3%. A significant portion of the Indian population is physically inactive, contributing to the rise in obesity.
- The report highlights the increasing issue of both undernutrition and obesity co-existing within the same population, driven by common factors such as poor diet quality.
- The consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to adverse health outcomes. The majority of food products by top global manufacturers in key countries, including India, are deemed unhealthy by WHO standards.
- India’s public spending on food security and nutrition has seen some increases, but the report suggests that there is still a need for more effective allocation and utilisation of resources to address the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition.
