International Food Security Expected To Improve, But Regional Differences Persist

In 2018, 21 percent of the population in 76 low- and middle-income countries, all of which are historic or current food aid recipients, is estimated to be food insecure. This means that about 782 million people out of a population of 3.7 billion consume less than a daily caloric target of 2,100 calories. Based on projected income growth and sustained low food prices, by 2028, the share and the number of food-insecure people in these countries are expected to decline to 10 percent and 446 million, respectively. Food insecurity is also projected to become less intense over the coming decade, reflected by a decline in the food gap in all regions and in most countries, from a total of 36.1 million metric tons of food in grain equivalent in 2018 to 23.7 million metric tons in 2028. The food gap is the amount of food needed to allow all food-insecure people to reach the caloric target.