Hunger Statistics

World Food Program Hunger Statistics

Hunger and under-nutrition are the number one risk to health worldwide, killing more people every year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.  How real is the problem of hunger?  Consider that:

  • The world has produced more than enough food to feed itself since the 1960s
  • Yet, around the world, over 850 million people are chronically hungry
  • That means one out of every seven people on earth goes hungry
  • There are 400 million hungry children in the world
  • That’s much hungry children than the population of the United States.
  • Every four seconds, someone, somewhere, dies because of hunger

Hunger in America

  • Nearly 35 million people including 13 million children in the United States were hungry or living on the edge of hunger in 2002
  • Over 11.1% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity or hunger
  • Food stamps are the USA’s leading defense against hunger for low-income people
  • A good breakfast is essential for children to be alert and ready to learn
  • Participation in nutrition programs can reduce childhood obesity and hunger

Poverty and Hunger in Alabama

  • 754,258 Alabamians live in poverty including 266,510 children
  • 1,475,320 people live below the federal poverty level
  • 226,000 Alabama households are food insecure
  • 546,684 persons on average receive food stamps per month
  • Average monthly food stamp benefit per person is $90.50