Ending Global Hunger in the 21st Century: Projections of the Number of Food Insecure People

Abstract

This article examines what would be required to substantially reduce, and ultimately end, chronic hunger. Projections of the number of food insecure people are provided for 2025 under several scenarios for major regions and globally. The methodology uses an estimated calorie-income relationship and an income distribution curve. Over 1 billion people are currently estimated to be food insecure, which declines to 830 million by 2025 at projected rates of population and economic growth. With pro-poor growth and a decline in real food prices, this number could be reduced to 380 million by 2025. Ending chronic, mass hunger in this century is an achievable goal.