The world is making real progress in the fight against hunger. For the third consecutive year, the share of people globally who do not have enough to eat has fallen — a trend that the United Nations describes as proof that "progress is possible."

According to a new report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 7.8% of the global population faced hunger in 2025. That is down from 8.1% in 2024 and from 8.6% in 2022. While these percentages may seem modest, they translate to tens of millions of people gaining consistent access to adequate food.

Where the Gains Are Happening

The improvements have been most pronounced in Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, where governments have made measurable investments in food security, agricultural productivity, and social protection programs. Across these regions, better infrastructure, more robust crop yields, and targeted nutrition programs have combined to lift many households out of chronic food insecurity.

Asia in particular has seen remarkable momentum. The region, home to over half the world's population, has dramatically reduced the proportion of people going hungry through a combination of agricultural innovation, improved supply chains, and expanded access to nutritious food in both rural and urban areas.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, long-running social safety net programs and increased investment in smallholder farmers have made a meaningful difference. Countries that had struggled with food access have seen improvements as governments maintain commitments to nutrition and agricultural support.

A Story of Recovery

The UN had previously noted that the COVID-19 pandemic set back global progress on hunger by approximately 15 years. The latest figures suggest the world is now actively recovering that lost ground — though not without continued vigilance.

"The report shows that progress is possible, but we must move faster," said Qu Dongyu, Director General of the FAO. "Ending hunger and making healthy diets affordable requires political commitment, sustained investment and enabling policies."

He highlighted that recent global disruptions — from extreme weather events to economic shocks — have demonstrated both the resilience and the fragility of food systems around the world. The work is far from complete, but the direction of travel is encouraging.

What Is Driving Progress

Researchers and policymakers point to several key factors sustaining this three-year run of improvement:

  • Agricultural innovation — more resilient crop varieties, improved irrigation, and precision farming tools are helping producers grow more with less.
  • Social protection programs — cash transfers, food vouchers, and school meal programs in developing regions ensure that food reaches the most vulnerable households.
  • Political will — countries that have prioritized food security as a governance priority have seen faster improvements.
  • Global cooperation — international coordination through the FAO, the World Food Programme, and related bodies has helped anticipate and respond to food crises before they escalate.

A Generation-Defining Opportunity

The UN's Sustainable Development Goals include a target to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030. With hunger now at its lowest level since before the pandemic, and with three consecutive years of meaningful decline, the window remains open.

For the millions of people who gained consistent access to adequate meals over the past three years, the statistics represent something far more tangible: fewer children struggling to focus in school, fewer adults losing productive years to food insecurity, and more communities that can invest their energy and resources in building brighter futures.

The third year of decline is a milestone worth celebrating. Whether it becomes the fourth, the fifth, and eventually the last year anyone has to count at all depends on the choices made by governments, institutions, and individuals in the years ahead. The evidence shows clearly that hunger is not inevitable — and that sustained, collective effort works.

That is good news worth building on.