The United Nations' latest report, published on July 24, 2024, reveals that world hunger has remained steady in recent years. 9.1% of the population was undernourished in 2023, or around 733.4 million people. And if we take a broader view of food insecurity indicators, this figure rises to 28.9%, or 2.3 billion people.

Food insecurity is defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as the lack of "regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life."

This occurs when a person lacks the resources to buy food, but also when food is simply not available. Food insecurity can also take the form of "food poverty," when one's diet is not sufficiently varied, with consequences for long-term health.

Yet not all regions are equally affected. Africa remains by far the continent most affected by hunger, as numbers continue to rise. Latin America, on the other hand, has seen a decline in hunger for the second year running. According to the experts at FAO, this situation is above all due to a lack of funding.

In this three-minute video, Le Monde takes a look at the various indicators that characterize food insecurity and the reasons why it remains so high.