A landmark collaborative report reveals that Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has achieved a notable reduction in undernourishment for the fourth consecutive year. According to the 2025 Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition, the prevalence of hunger has declined to 5.1% of the regional population in 2024, marking a substantial improvement from the 6.1% peak recorded in 2020. This progress translates to 6.2 million fewer individuals experiencing food deprivation across the region.
The comprehensive assessment, jointly produced by five United Nations agencies including FAO, IFAD, PAHO/WHO, WFP, and UNICEF, highlights particularly impressive advancements in South America. This subregion has achieved an average hunger prevalence of just 3.8%, reflecting a reduction of nearly one percentage point between 2022 and 2024. Several nations including Brazil, Costa Rica, Guyana, and Uruguay have emerged as regional leaders with hunger rates falling below 2.5%, while Chile and Mexico approach this benchmark.
Despite these encouraging developments, the report underscores persistent disparities. The Caribbean subregion continues to face severe challenges, with hunger affecting 17.5% of its population, largely driven by Haiti’s alarming 54.2% undernourishment rate. Moderate or severe food insecurity impacted 25.2% of LAC’s population in 2024, showing improvement from the 2020 peak of 33.7% yet remaining concerning. A significant gender gap persists, with food insecurity rates 5.3 percentage points higher among women compared to men.
The analysis further reveals a complex nutritional landscape where progress coexists with serious public health challenges. While stunting among children under five has decreased to 12.4%, adult obesity rates have doubled since 2000, now affecting nearly 30% of the population. The region faces the highest global cost for a healthy diet at $5.16 per day, though affordability has improved slightly with 15.4 million more people able to access nutritious food compared to 2021.
UN officials emphasize that despite measurable progress, profound inequalities continue to affect vulnerable populations. Rocío Medina Bolívar of IFAD noted that ‘women and rural communities experience higher levels of food insecurity,’ urging targeted investments in rural development. PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa highlighted the need to transform food environments dominated by ultra-processed products, while UNICEF’s Roberto Benes called for strengthened multisectoral systems to address the region’s complex nutrition challenges.