Despite the growing global economy, people around the world are increasingly lacking the money they need for a healthy diet. This is the conclusion of the study "World Food Poverty Gap" by Misereor and scientists from the Georg August University in Göttingen. This was presented today in the run-up to World Food Day (16 October).

As the study shows, people worldwide lack a total of 3.25 trillion US dollars to be able to feed themselves healthily. "The poverty gap corresponds to just 1.62 per cent of global economic output, but prevents almost one in three people from having a healthy diet," explains Jonas Stehl, development economist at the University of Göttingen. "Compared to 2023, the poverty gap has widened by 16 billion US dollars in the 2024 calculation period," Stehl continues. While the situation in the East Asia-Pacific region has improved significantly, food poverty has risen sharply in sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East-North Africa since 2017. A country comparison also shows the difficult situation in both regions. Of the ten countries most severely affected by food poverty, only Haiti is outside these regions.

Per capita food poverty is highest in South Sudan. "The average person there lacks 86 per cent of the income needed to eat healthily. Almost the entire population is affected," explains Lutz Depenbusch, Misereor expert for agriculture and nutrition and development economist. "The study results show the effects of the multiple crises in this country. Armed conflicts, economic hardship and disasters exacerbated by climate change, such as floods and droughts, have combined to create an extreme emergency situation," continues Depenbusch.

Overall, however, it is not only disasters that can cause malnutrition. Malnutrition is also primarily a consequence of poverty and economic inequality. Sebastian Vollmer, Professor of Development Economics at the University of Göttingen, emphasises: "The global economy is growing, but food poverty is increasing at the same time. This means that growth is not reaching those who need it most." The study also shows the connection between inequality and food poverty within countries: "A comparison of countries with similar incomes reveals that food poverty in the countries with the highest income inequality is up to seven times greater than in the countries with the lowest inequality."

Lutz Depenbusch observes the current development with concern: "The human and economic consequences of today's food poverty will be felt for decades to come," says the development economist. "Even temporary malnutrition impairs the development of children and has a negative impact on the health of people of all ages. If children cannot develop healthily today, they will also be deprived of the opportunity to contribute their full potential to their own future and that of their homeland." With regard to the current budget negotiations, Depenbusch points out: "If savings are made today on programmes to combat hunger and malnutrition, the fight against poverty will be all the more expensive in the future." The consequences of the cuts in development aid by the USA, but also by Germany and other countries, are already clearly noticeable. Depenbusch emphasises: "The German government should set an example against this trend now, before the human and economic costs continue to rise along with food poverty."

To the study:

Poverty is a major cause of hunger and malnutrition. Misereor has calculated the extent of food poverty worldwide for the third time in 2025 together with the Göttingen scientists Jonas Stehl and Sebastian Vollmer. The "Global Food Poverty Gap" shows how much money people around the world lack in order to be able to afford a healthy diet.

Further information and materials on the study can be found here:

• The scientific article on the "Cost of a healthy diet" study
• Q&A - additional information on the study
• Factsheet
• The current issue of the brochure "Challenge Hunger 2025/26" with a detailed article on the study
  For free use: You can find sound bites and a photo of Lutz Depenbusch here:
  We are happy to provide the data for the study for the creation of infographics.