Rome, 16 May 2025 — The Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) released the 2025 edition of the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) at a high-level launch event at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) headquarters in Rome. The report documents that 295.3 million people across 53 countries and territories faced acute food insecurity at crisis level or worse (IPC Phase 3+) in 2024 — a figure that has tripled since the report's inaugural edition in 2016 and doubled since 2020.
The findings arrive at what the report's authors describe as a stark inflection point: the continued rise in acute hunger is colliding with sharp reductions in humanitarian assistance funding, threatening to compound the crisis further in 2025 and beyond.
Famine Confirmed in Sudan
In a grim historical milestone, the IPC Famine Review Committee confirmed the existence of famine conditions in parts of Sudan — the first confirmed famine globally since 2020. The designation applies to areas of North Darfur, including the Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and Al Salam displacement camps, as well as parts of the Western Nuba Mountains, where conflict has destroyed livelihoods, collapsed markets, and severed humanitarian access.
In the Gaza Strip, the IPC Famine Review Committee found that more than half the population was at risk of famine throughout 2024. While available evidence did not confirm actual famine conditions during periods when humanitarian assistance flowed, the collapse of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in early 2025 and the virtual halt of food aid led the IPC to project the entire population of Gaza faces crisis-level acute food insecurity, with nearly 500,000 people on the verge of famine.
Drivers of the Crisis
The report identifies three converging drivers of acute food insecurity:
| Driver | Countries Affected | People Impacted |
|---|---|---|
| Conflict | 20 of 65 countries | Primary driver in most severe cases |
| Climate extremes | 18 countries | 96+ million |
| Economic shocks | 15 countries | 59+ million |
Conflict remained the single largest driver, affecting 20 of the 65 countries and territories covered by the report. Climate change-related extreme weather was the primary driver in 18 countries, affecting more than 96 million people. Economic shocks drove acute food insecurity in 15 countries, impacting over 59 million people.
The Funding Crisis
The report raises urgent concerns about the trajectory of humanitarian aid. The termination of most international assistance from the United States in early 2025, combined with announced budget cuts from other major donor countries, threatens to drastically reduce food security support. The GRFC reports that allocations to food sectors could fall by as much as 45% in 2025.
These cuts arrive at a time when more than 231 million people are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity in 2025, based on preliminary data as of May 12, 2025. Of the 65 countries and territories covered by the report, 11 received official development assistance exceeding 10% of their gross national income, underscoring their heavy dependence on external support.
Vulnerability and Coping Capacity
The report introduces a framework for assessing countries' vulnerability and capacity to respond to shocks. Of the 16 countries with the greatest magnitude and prevalence of acute food insecurity in the GRFC 2025, most exhibited both high vulnerability to shocks and low coping capacity. These structural factors include infrastructure quality, agricultural market structure, and fiscal ability to invest in social safety net programs and disaster prevention mechanisms.
Looking Ahead
The risk of food crises spreading and deepening remains high. The intensification of multiple conflicts, sustained vulnerability to weather extremes, and uncertainty over trade and macroeconomic policies of major economies all contribute to a precarious outlook. The report warns that turmoil in financial markets and potential slowdown of global economic growth could have adverse impacts on food security in low-income countries.
"Building more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems for all will take significant political and financial commitment, but as the 2025 GRFC highlights, the time for such commitment is now — before protracted food crises and the risk of famine will affect tens of millions more people and become more difficult to contain."
The report was produced by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN), a global initiative co-funded by the European Union and USAID, in partnership with FAO, WFP, and IFPRI.
Sources
- Global Network Against Food Crises, 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, released 16 May 2025, Rome
- IFPRI Blog: "2025 Global Report on Food Crises: Rising Food Insecurity Meets Waning Humanitarian Assistance," Rob Vos and Sara Gustafson, May 2025
- Food Security Information Network (FSIN), 2025 GRFC Report
- IPC Famine Review Committee, Sudan analysis, 2024–2025
FIRAT Editorial Board
Institutional Research Desk · Foresight Institute of Research and Translation
The collective editorial and research translation board of FIRAT, synthesising peer-reviewed evidence, policy briefs, and division milestones across our seven foundational research pillars.
