The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of hunger is a craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient. Another definition is a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by a lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat. These are descriptions that everyone of us can relate to, as we have all experienced this feeling of hunger at one time or another.
In politics, humanitarian aid and the social sciences, hunger is defined as a condition in which a person is unable to eat sufficient food to meet their basic nutritional needs for a sustained period, thus impacting their ability to lead a normal, active and healthy life. Within the field of hunger relief, the term 'hunger' is used in a sense that extends beyond the common desire for food that all humans experience.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) uses the 'Prevalence of Undernourishment' indicator to estimate the extent of hunger in the world. This is the globally recognised and accepted approach for defining and measuring hunger. Thus, 'hunger' may also be referred to as chronic undernourishment.
Food insecurity and hunger are interlinked. An individual or family is considered food insecure when they are uncertain about where their next meal will come from. According to the FAO, people who do not have regular access to safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development, and an active and healthy life, are food insecure.
Food insecurity can be experienced at different levels, as outlined below using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES).
Over
800 million
people (10% of the world) go to bed on an empty stomach
An estimated
100 million
more people became chronically hungry because of the pandemic
226.7 million
people (1 in 4 Africans) suffer from hunger
~ 50%
of the populace live below the poverty line
Nigeria ranked
110th out of 127
countries in terms of hunger (2024 Global Hunger Index)
An estimated
> 100 million
Nigerians (1 in 2 people) live below the poverty line (2023 World Bank)