Global hunger, often described as the world’s most solvable problem, is unfortunately on the rise. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people facing extreme hunger, driven by factors like extreme weather events, ongoing conflicts, rising food costs, the lingering socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. This escalating crisis naturally leads to a crucial question: how much money is truly needed to address this challenge, and more broadly, how much money does the world have available to tackle such issues?
In 2012, the United Nations established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with SDG 2 aiming for “Zero Hunger.” The ambitious goal was to eradicate hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030. For a period, significant progress was being made towards this target. However, recent surges in hunger levels, coupled with the increasing costs of combating it, have created a daunting situation.
Despite these growing obstacles, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) continues its vital work, delivering food aid to tens of millions annually. We understand the measures required to end world hunger, and we have a clear understanding of the financial resources necessary. The critical missing piece is collective global will to prioritize and fund these solutions.
Haitian woman receiving food aid
The number of individuals grappling with severe hunger has alarmingly reached 345 million, highlighting the urgent need for global action.
The Stark Reality: How Many People Are Hungry Right Now?
To understand the scale of the problem, it’s essential to define hunger. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines hunger as “an uncomfortable or painful physical sensation caused by insufficient consumption of dietary energy.” Simply put, it’s the gnawing feeling of an empty stomach, a reality for 828 million people worldwide today. This staggering number is 2.5 times greater than the entire population of the United States.
Within this vast number, 345 million people face the most extreme levels of hunger, verging on starvation. These are the individuals who are the primary focus of the U.N. World Food Programme’s life-saving efforts.
A farmer in South Sudan amidst a dry field
The current global hunger crisis is exacerbated by what is often referred to as the four C’s: conflict, climate shocks, COVID-19, and rising costs, creating a perfect storm of food insecurity.
Calculating the Cost: What Would It Take Financially to Feed the World?
The U.N. World Food Programme provides food assistance to over 100 million people facing severe hunger across more than 120 countries and territories each year. In 2021, this massive operation was executed with a budget of $9.6 billion. However, even this substantial sum fell short of the total funding required by $5.2 billion. It’s evident that eradicating world hunger necessitates a significantly larger financial commitment.
In July 2021, U.N. World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley estimated that approximately $40 billion annually would be required to end world hunger by 2030.
“That seems like a lot of money,” Beasley acknowledged. “But in the United States alone, in the last one year, the U.S. billionaires’ net worth increase was over $1 trillion.”
This comparison puts the scale of the required funding into perspective when considering the vast amount of wealth that exists globally.
Woman participating in a climate resilience program in Bangladesh
The world possesses both the knowledge and the resources to effectively combat and ultimately eliminate hunger, if the financial resources can be mobilized.
The $6 Billion Question: Could a Fraction of Global Wealth Make a Difference?
The figure of $6 billion has frequently circulated in discussions about world hunger, particularly on social media and in news reports. In October 2021, the U.N. World Food Programme made a direct appeal to the world’s billionaires to contribute and help avert famine for millions of people. At that time, 42 million individuals were on the brink of starvation in 43 countries.
“$6 billion to help 42 million people that are literally going to die if we don’t reach them,” stated Executive Director David Beasley, emphasizing the urgency and the direct impact of such a contribution. “It’s not complicated.”
The calculation is straightforward: $6 billion could provide 42 million people facing famine with a life-saving, nutritionally complete meal every day for an entire year. With the U.N. World Food Programme able to provide a meal for as little as $0.43, the math is compelling:
$0.43 per meal x 42 million people x 365 days = approximately $6.6 billion
By the close of 2021, updated data revealed a worsening situation, with the number of people on the edge of famine increasing, pushing the estimated cost to $7 billion to save 45 million lives. This demonstrates that even seemingly large sums are targeted and directly linked to tangible human needs.
A mother holding her child in Mali, highlighting the impact of malnutrition
With an annual investment of $40 billion, a relatively small fraction of global wealth, the goal of ending global hunger by 2030 becomes a realistic and achievable objective.
Is Zero Hunger Within Reach?
The answer is a definitive yes. The U.N. World Food Programme has developed a comprehensive plan to end world hunger, grounded in clear figures and actionable strategies:
- Globally, 828 million people are currently hungry, representing 1 in 10 people on the planet.
- Among these, 50 million are teetering on the edge of famine and require immediate, critical assistance.
- The U.N. World Food Programme already reaches and feeds over 100 million of the most vulnerable hungry people each year.
- An urgent injection of $7 billion is needed this year to deliver essential food to millions facing famine.
- A sustained annual investment of $40 billion is required to feed all the world’s hungry and achieve Zero Hunger by 2030.
While $40 billion appears to be a significant amount, it’s crucial to consider it within the context of global expenditure. In 2021 alone, Americans spent nearly $11 billion on Cyber Monday. This single day of online shopping in one country surpassed the amount needed to prevent famine globally. This comparison underscores that the resources to solve world hunger are available. Achieving Zero Hunger is not an insurmountable task but requires a global prioritization and commitment.
Ending world hunger demands a collective effort, and every contribution, regardless of size, plays a crucial role. Even a small donation can have a significant impact.
Every individual who has consistent access to food and the opportunity to reach their full potential creates a positive ripple effect, benefiting their families, communities, and nations. Whether it’s $5 or $5,000, every donation contributes to saving lives and building a more food-secure future. Ending hunger is one of the defining challenges of our time, but together, it remains one of the world’s most solvable problems.
