According to the 2026 Global Hunger Hotspots report, released by Action Against Hunger, two out of every three people suffering from acute food insecurity worldwide live in just 10 countries, with over 196 million people facing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic hunger conditions. The report was compiled by integrating data from the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2025) and the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC 2025), in order to provide a comprehensive and evidence-based view of the world’s most significant hunger hotspots to monitor in 2026.
Alarmingly, SOFI reported that approximately 673 million people were suffering from chronic hunger, while the GRFC documented 295 million people experiencing acute food insecurity across 59 countries and territories — the highest figure recorded since the GRFC was first published in 2016. This document goes beyond statistical analysis by incorporating first-hand testimonies, insights drawn from Action Against Hunger’s field programs in the countries reviewed, and practical recommendations aimed at improving hunger conditions and strengthening resilience in vulnerable regions.
The Global Hunger Hotspots report focuses on the ten countries with the highest number of people facing acute food insecurity, including Nigeria, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Syria. Other areas of major concern include Haiti, the Gaza Strip, and South Sudan, which have smaller populations but extremely high levels of hunger, affecting between 50% and 100% of their populations. These regions combine a high incidence of hunger with a real and growing risk of famine.
The report highlights several key themes that underline the worsening nature of food crises around the world. First, acute food insecurity is increasingly concentrated in a limited number of countries. Secondly, the number of people facing famine-like conditions is rising steadily. In areas such as Gaza, Haiti, and South Sudan, hunger has become a tragic reality that threatens entire populations. Armed conflict, extreme weather events, economic shocks, and structural inequalities are present in hunger-afflicted countries with varying degrees of intensity. These factors interact with one another, reinforce existing vulnerabilities, and repeat similar patterns across different national contexts, creating prolonged and complex emergencies.
It has also been observed that the most severe hunger crises emerge in areas where political and social institutions are weak, compromised, or deeply strained. When infrastructure and essential services lack resilience, any shock — whether war, drought, or economic collapse — can quickly escalate into catastrophe. What is particularly concerning is that violence, bureaucratic restrictions, attacks on humanitarian workers, and political obstacles severely hamper access to aid. These impediments not only slow down timely humanitarian interventions but also aggravate the needs of populations already affected by food crises, thereby deepening the emergency and prolonging recovery.
One of the most alarming findings is that in the 13 countries surveyed, nearly 30 million children suffer from acute malnutrition. Of these, about 8.5 million are severely malnourished and at high risk of mortality if they do not receive timely treatment. Malnutrition is also widespread among mothers: at least 13 million pregnant or breastfeeding women are malnourished, with consequences likely to be passed on to their children, perpetuating an intergenerational cycle of hunger and poor health. In many countries, however, affected populations demonstrate extraordinary resilience in combating hunger. Their determination during emergency situations and their ability to adapt through autonomy-building programs are key elements that help sustain hope for a more stable and secure future.
However, what continues to hamper the work of humanitarian organisations like Action Against Hunger is the lack of adequate funding. In 2024, the “Hunger Funding Gap” report showed a 65% shortfall in funding for hunger- and food-related humanitarian programs in countries facing food crises. Since then, international funding cuts have worsened the situation. For example, the United States announced an 83 percent cut to its support for humanitarian programs worldwide. This was followed by significant reductions in assistance from Germany, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the Netherlands. A study published in July 2025 showed that programs funded by USAID over the last 20 years are estimated to have saved more than 90 million lives, reducing overall mortality by 15% and child mortality by 32% in beneficiary countries. According to the authors of the study, maintaining these cuts until 2030 could result in 14 million preventable deaths, including 4.5 million children under the age of five.
In the 2025 Global Hunger Index, Pakistan ranks 106th out of 123 countries. With a score of 26.0, the country’s level of hunger remains concerning. Despite some progress, the nutrition and food security situation continues to be serious. Pakistan is ranked among the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change and has already experienced unprecedented flooding in recent years. It also struggles with high multidimensional poverty, with nearly half of an average household’s monthly expenditure going toward food, while approximately 82 percent of the population cannot afford a healthy diet.
A total of 18 percent of children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition, and around 40 percent are stunted, reflecting long-term nutritional deprivation. Record-high food and fuel prices, exacerbated by climate change impacts on agriculture and infrastructure, have placed immense pressure on Pakistan’s most vulnerable communities. The World Food Programme works with the government and local partners to improve food security and nutrition among poorer households and vulnerable populations across the country. To complement life-saving humanitarian assistance in emergency contexts and gradually reduce dependence on external aid, the WFP is investing in long-term resilience-building initiatives, including stunting prevention, disaster risk reduction, strengthening food systems, and supporting sustainable livelihood activities.