Worldwide, people lack 2.59 trillion US dollars to feed themselves healthily. This is the conclusion of a recent study by Misereor and scientists from the Georg August University of Göttingen on the "Global Food Poverty Gap". This is being presented today in the run-up to Thanksgiving (6 October) and World Food Day (16 October).
"Despite a growing global economy, food poverty is dramatically high," says Lutz Depenbusch, development economist and nutrition expert at Misereor, summarising the results of the study. 3.1 billion people lack the money for a healthy diet, totalling 2.59 trillion US dollars. "With a global economic output of 139 trillion US dollars, this gap corresponds to just 1.86 per cent of global income, but separates two out of five people from a healthy diet," explains Jonas Stehl, development economist at the University of Göttingen. A year-on-year comparison also shows just how great the inequality is: while average per capita incomes had already exceeded the pre-corona level in 2021, the global poverty gap in 2022 remains at the level of the crisis year 2020. "After people living in poverty were particularly hard hit by the crises of recent years, they are now being denied a fair share of the renewed growth in prosperity," says Lutz Depenbusch. The situation in sub-Saharan Africa is particularly critical. The poverty gap here has been growing continuously since 2019. Depenbusch warns: "Without a rapid reversal of the trend, it will become increasingly difficult to catch up in the fight against malnutrition in the region."
Hardest hit: South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
"In a comparison of the world's regions, South Asia still has the largest share of the global poverty gap in the current 2022 calculation period at 30 per cent," explains Jonas Stehl. By comparison, the combined share of Europe and Central Asia is less than four per cent. Per capita food poverty is highest in Mozambique. "94 per cent of people there cannot afford a healthy diet," continues Stehl. In addition, the poverty gap in Mozambique is greater than the country's total economic output. In addition to low-income countries, middle-income countries with high levels of inequality also have large poverty gaps. In Brazil, South Africa and Kenya, for example, more than half of the population cannot afford a healthy diet. "The high figures show that food poverty often goes hand in hand with worsening crises," explains Depenbusch. In Kenya, for example, 72 per cent of people lack the money for a healthy diet. In quick succession, the country has been hit by the COVID epidemic, a debt crisis, a drought exacerbated by the climate catastrophe and floods. Civil society in the country criticises the government's inadequate preparation for the climate catastrophe, says Depenbusch, but above all the debt reduction on the shoulders of low-income population groups. "The growing protests against tax increases and the rising cost of living in Kenya and other countries such as Nigeria and Uganda show that many people have reached their breaking point," says Depenbusch.
Strengthening civil society and reducing poverty
Against this backdrop, Misereor is calling for global wealth to be used to reduce poverty and end the suffering caused by hunger and malnutrition. "The German government should lobby the United Nations for the conclusion of a global tax treaty and an orderly debt relief process for highly indebted countries," demands the Misereor food expert. "Local civil society actors who advocate for people living in poverty and food security with their governments need reliable support." In view of the ongoing crisis situation, cuts in international cooperation are therefore unjustifiable. "The income that people around the world are lacking corresponds to less than two
per cent of economic output. There is enough for everyone. Now it must also arrive where it is most urgently needed," says Depenbusch.
Thanksgiving is political
Founded in 1958 as the "Organisation against Hunger and Disease in the World", Misereor is using Thanksgiving as the occasion for a series of publications outlining solutions for combating hunger and making suggestions on how the UN sustainability goal of "zero hunger" can still be achieved by 2030: www.misereor.de/herausforderung-hunger-2024-25-armutsluecke-welternaehrung
Poverty is a major cause of hunger and malnutrition. In 2024, Misereor calculated the extent of food poverty worldwide for the second time together with scientists from the University of Göttingen. The "Global Food Poverty Gap" shows how much money people around the world lack to be able to afford a healthy diet.
Further information:
Misereor material on the study can be found here.
Scientific working paper on the study (English) University of Göttingen here.
Graphics from the study on request. We are happy to provide the data from the study for the creation of infographics.
