The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015
Meeting the 2015 international hunger targets: taking stock of uneven progress.
This year´s annual State of Food Insecurity in the World report takes stock of progress made towards achieving the internationally established Millennium Development Goal (MDG1) and World Food Summit hunger targets and reflects on what needs to be done, as we transition to the new post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda. The report reviews progress made since 1990 for every country and region as well as for the world as a whole.
Progress towards the MDG 1 target, however, is assessed not only by measuring undernourishment, or hunger, but also by a second indicator – the prevalence of underweight children under five yearsof age. Progress for the two indicators across regions and over time, is compared, providing insights into the complexity of food security.
Overall progress not with standing, much work remains to be done to eradicate hunger and achieve food security across all its dimensions. The 2015 report not only estimates the progress already achieved, but also identifies remaining problems, and provides guidanceon which policies should be emphasized in the future. Key factors that have determined success to date towards food security and nutrition goals are identified. The list of factors – economic growth,agricultural productivity growth, markets (including international trade) and social protection – is by no means exhaustive. The report also shows how protracted crises, due to conflict or natural disasters, have deleterious effects on progress in hunger reduction.
U.N. Reports About 200 Million Fewer Hungry People Than in 1990
Factbox: Global hunger by the numbers
Despite population growth, fewer people are hungry today than at anytime in the last two decades, including 10 million fewer than last year, according to the «State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015» report from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
By the numbers:
– People who don’t have enough food in 2015: 795 million
– People who didn’t have enough food in 2014: 805 million
– Decrease in number of hungry people worldwide since 1990: 216 million
– Number of developing countries that didn’t: 57
– Number of people in developed countries who don’t have enough food: 15 million
– Number of African countries facing food crises in 1990: 12
– Number of African countries facing food crises in 2015: 24
– Number of hungry people in Asia in 1990: 742 million
– Number of hungry people in Asia in 2015: 512 million
– Percentage of South Americans who are hungry: Less than 5
– Percentage of Sub-Saharan Africans who are hungry: 23.2
(Reporting By Chris Arsenault; Editing By Leslie Gevirtz)