A full stomach is not enough!
Simple porridge with tea, a handful of rice or cheap but unhealthy food. This is what breakfast looks like for many families around the world. It is often the only meal of the day. Nutritious foods are rarely on the menu. Fruit? Vegetables? Usually unaffordable for them.
Food poverty prevents development
Food poverty means that people do not have the means to eat enough healthy food, for example because they do not have the money, they cannot grow enough themselves or conflicts make food scarce. The lack of nutrient-rich foods such as vegetables, fruit, wholemeal products and legumes often has serious health and economic consequences. Food poverty hinders not only individual but also social development.
Poverty gap in global nutrition
The annual study “Global Food Poverty Gap” highlights the scale of food poverty worldwide and which countries are particularly affected.
Each year, the study calculates how much money people worldwide are lacking to be able to afford a healthy diet. It also highlights how this food poverty gap compares to global economic output. The study’s findings reveal the extent of food poverty worldwide and where countries are reaching their limits in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.
2026 Results at a Glance
- Globally, people are short of 2.79 trillion US dollars to be able to eat a healthy diet.
- This poverty gap amounts to just 1.31 per cent of global economic output, yet it prevents one in three people from eating a healthy diet. Per person, this equates to a shortfall of US$1,000 per year, or US$2.74 per day, for healthy food.
- Compared with 2024, the poverty gap has narrowed by US$84 billion over the 2025 calculation period.
- The poverty gap has narrowed in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa. This is a positive sign following years of rising food poverty in these regions. The greatest improvement has been recorded in South Asia. The region is thus putting the setbacks of the COVID-19 crisis behind it.
- Despite these improvements, 65 per cent of people in sub-Saharan Africa, 41 per cent in South Asia and 37 per cent in the Middle East and North Africa cannot afford a healthy diet.
- The burden per person is highest in Mozambique. There, the average person lacks 62 per cent of the income needed to eat a healthy diet. Almost the entire population (92 per cent) is unable to eat a healthy diet.
Five countries with the largest poverty gap
The cost of a healthy diet has risen by 46 per cent between 2017 and 2025. This has contributed significantly to the current scale of food poverty. In the Middle East and North Africa in particular, the rise in the cost of a healthy diet since 2017 has led to a marked increase in food poverty. In South Asia, rising prices have almost entirely offset the effects of substantial income growth between 2017 and 2025.
The findings highlight the importance of mitigating the impact of rising prices on people on low incomes and of overcoming economic inequalities.
Dr. Lutz Depenbusch
Policy Officer for Food, Nutrition and Agriculture
- Telephone
- +49 241 442903
- lutz.depenbusch@misereor.de
Recent study
Study 2026 – Poverty Gap: World Food Security
The “Global Food Poverty Gap” illustrates how much money people worldwide are lacking to afford the…
The “Global Food Poverty Gap” illustrates how much money people worldwide are lacking to afford the minimum requirements of a balanced diet, and the extent of the injustice. In 2025, this gap will amount to 2.79 trillion US dollars.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Project managers: Nina Brodbeck, Lutz Depenbusch, Johanna Entrup
- Number of pages: 20
- Year of publication: October 2026
The “Global Food Poverty Gap” illustrates how much money people worldwide are lacking to afford the minimum requirements of a balanced diet, and the extent of the injustice. In 2025, this gap will amount to 2.79 trillion US dollars.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Project managers: Nina Brodbeck, Lutz Depenbusch, Johanna Entrup
- Number of pages: 20
- Year of publication: October 2026
Further information on the study: Poverty Gap – World Food Supply 2026
Food insecurity remains dramatically high despite a growing global economy.
Here you will find…
Food insecurity remains dramatically high despite a growing global economy.
Here you will find further information and statistics on the study “Global Food Poverty Gap 2026”.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Project managers: Nina Brodbeck, Johanna Entrup, Lutz Depenbusch
- Number of pages: 6
- Year of publication: October 2026
Food insecurity remains dramatically high despite a growing global economy.
Here you will find further information and statistics on the study “Global Food Poverty Gap 2026”.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Project managers: Nina Brodbeck, Johanna Entrup, Lutz Depenbusch
- Number of pages: 6
- Year of publication: October 2026
Research article: ‘The Poverty Gap in Global Food Security’
The "World Food Poverty Gap" study calculates every year how much money people around the world lack…
The "World Food Poverty Gap" study calculates every year how much money people around the world lack in order to be able to afford a healthy diet. The scientific article by Misereor and the University of Göttingen contains all the results of the study.
- Publisher: Misereor, University of Göttingen
- Product managers: Jonas Stehl, Lutz Depenbusch, Sebastian Vollmer
- Number of pages: 33
- Year of publication: September 2025
The "World Food Poverty Gap" study calculates every year how much money people around the world lack in order to be able to afford a healthy diet. The scientific article by Misereor and the University of Göttingen contains all the results of the study.
- Publisher: Misereor, University of Göttingen
- Product managers: Jonas Stehl, Lutz Depenbusch, Sebastian Vollmer
- Number of pages: 33
- Year of publication: September 2025
Annual publications 'The Challenge of Hunger'
Study "Global Food Poverty Gap" - What we can do to stop food poverty
The "Global Food Poverty Gap"…
Study "Global Food Poverty Gap" - What we can do to stop food poverty
The "Global Food Poverty Gap" shows how much money people around the world lack to afford the minimum level of a balanced diet and how great the injustice is. In 2024, this gap will amount to 3.25 trillion US dollars.
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Publisher: Misereor
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Product managers: Nina Brodbeck, Lutz Depenbusch, Johanna Entrup
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Number of pages: 24
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Year of publication: October 2025
Study "Global Food Poverty Gap" - What we can do to stop food poverty
The "Global Food Poverty Gap" shows how much money people around the world lack to afford the minimum level of a balanced diet and how great the injustice is. In 2024, this gap will amount to 3.25 trillion US dollars.
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Publisher: Misereor
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Product managers: Nina Brodbeck, Lutz Depenbusch, Johanna Entrup
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Number of pages: 24
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Year of publication: October 2025
The challenge of hunger 2024 | 25 - Global food poverty gap
No access! Why our global food system penalises people living in poverty. And how we can create good…
No access! Why our global food system penalises people living in poverty. And how we can create good markets for good nutrition.
Food poverty is dramatically high despite a growing global economy. 2 out of 5 people cannot afford a healthy diet.
Hunger and malnutrition are primarily the result of poverty and inequality. The "Global Food Poverty Gap" shows how much money people around the world lack to afford the minimum level of a balanced diet and how great the injustice is. After all, healthy nutrition is not a luxury, but a human right. Together with its partner organisations, Misereor is committed to fighting hunger in the long term. This booklet presents examples of projects from Brazil, India and Uganda that strengthen smallholder families and improve access to food markets - for both producers and consumers.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Responsible for the product: Nina Brodbeck, Corinna Würzberger, Lutz Depenbusch
- Number of pages: 24
- Year of publication: September 2024
No access! Why our global food system penalises people living in poverty. And how we can create good markets for good nutrition.
Food poverty is dramatically high despite a growing global economy. 2 out of 5 people cannot afford a healthy diet.
Hunger and malnutrition are primarily the result of poverty and inequality. The "Global Food Poverty Gap" shows how much money people around the world lack to afford the minimum level of a balanced diet and how great the injustice is. After all, healthy nutrition is not a luxury, but a human right. Together with its partner organisations, Misereor is committed to fighting hunger in the long term. This booklet presents examples of projects from Brazil, India and Uganda that strengthen smallholder families and improve access to food markets - for both producers and consumers.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Responsible for the product: Nina Brodbeck, Corinna Würzberger, Lutz Depenbusch
- Number of pages: 24
- Year of publication: September 2024
The Challenge of Hunger 2023 | 24 – Annual Journal of World Food
The poverty gap
Two out of five people worldwide lack the money for a healthy diet. How we can…
The poverty gap
Two out of five people worldwide lack the money for a healthy diet. How we can close this gap.
The Misereor publication "The Challenge of Hunger - Annual World Food Security 2023/24" shows: Hunger and poverty are closely intertwined. The "healthy nutrition poverty gap" shows how much money people around the world lack to be able to afford a balanced diet. If you want to fight hunger, you have to tackle poverty and inequality. Read in the publication how the Misereor partner organisations are setting a good example.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: September 2023
- Pages: 24
The poverty gap
Two out of five people worldwide lack the money for a healthy diet. How we can close this gap.
The Misereor publication "The Challenge of Hunger - Annual World Food Security 2023/24" shows: Hunger and poverty are closely intertwined. The "healthy nutrition poverty gap" shows how much money people around the world lack to be able to afford a balanced diet. If you want to fight hunger, you have to tackle poverty and inequality. Read in the publication how the Misereor partner organisations are setting a good example.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: September 2023
- Pages: 24
