Understanding Hunger
Ending hunger isn’t about supply. The world produces enough food to feed everyone on the planet. The problem is access and availability, both of which are disrupted by things like extreme weather, food waste, one’s gender and – worst of all – conflict.
Ending hunger is the greatest challenge of our time, but together it’s solvable.
Conflict
Conflict is the #1 driver of hunger in the world, and it’s entirely preventable. It uproots families, destroys economies, ruins infrastructure and halts agricultural production.
Poverty
Poverty is often at the heart of hunger. When people can’t afford the food their families need, it perpetuates the cycle of hunger and poverty.
Extreme Weather
Extreme weather is one of the leading causes of global hunger as it destroys land, livestock and crops. Over 80% of the world’s hungry people live in disaster-prone countries.
Disease
Hunger weakens the body and makes it more vulnerable to infectious diseases. Outbreaks often occur in hunger hotspots, creating complex health emergencies.
Famine
Famine is deadly and entirely preventable. Today, millions of people could starve without immediate assistance. We’ve prevented famine before, and with your help we can prevent it again.
Food Waste
Nearly one-third of all the food produced globally each year is lost or wasted. If we could recover all the food we waste, we could feed every hungry person on the planet twice over.
Gender Inequality
In nearly two-thirds of countries around the world, women are more likely than men to suffer from hunger and malnourishment. That’s because in many cases, women eat last and least.
Take Action To Fight Hunger
Join Us on TikTok
Use your social media influence as a platform to raise awareness for ending world hunger.
Be an Advocate
Send an email to your representative in Congress to advocate on behalf of the hungry.
Play Freerice
You pick the topic, and for every correct answer 10 grains of rice are donated to change lives around the world!
Take the Hunger Quiz
How much do you know about the causes of global hunger? Let’s find out! The answers may surprise you.
News & Stories
- News Release
- June 16, 2025
- News Release
- June 12, 2025
- News Release
- June 10, 2025
