Hunger Facts

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Although related, food insecurity and poverty are not the same thing. Unemployment, rather than poverty, is a stronger predictor of food insecurity. As of 2026, Michigan’s unemployment rate is 5.1%, while the national average rate of unemployment stands at 4.3%.  
      • Approximately 2.8 billion people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy, active life. That’s about one in three people on earth, showing a substantial decrease from previous years. 
      • The vast majority of the world’s hungry people still live in developing countries, where 13.5% of the population is undernourished. 
      • Asia remains the continent with the most hungry people – about 323 million people. The number in Southern Asia is higher than in other parts, while western Asia has stabilized. Women and girls still represent approximately 60% of the world’s hunger. 
      • Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the region with the highest prevalence (percentage of population) of hunger. Approximately one person in five is undernourished, showing some improvement. 
      • Poor nutrition causes approximately 45% of deaths in children under five – about 2.7 million children each year. 
      • One out of six children – roughly 100 million – in developing countries is underweight. 
      • One in four of the world’s children are stunted. In developing countries, the proportion can rise to one in five. Of the children who are food insecure/hungry globally: 22% suffer from stunting, 37 million are overweight, and 6.8% suffer from moderate to severe wasting. 
      • If women farmers had the same access to resources as men, the number of hungry people in the world could be reduced by up to 150 million. 
      • 66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry across the developing world, with 23 million in Africa alone. 
      • The 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report indicates the number of undernourished people is expected to decrease between 2025 and 2030, but 512 million people are still expected to be facing hunger by 2030. 60% of those people will be in Africa. 
      • Hunger still kills more people each year than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. 

The data represents the most current available information as of early 2026. 

    • 13.5 million – 1 in 12 – working adults in the U.S. struggle against hunger. And approximately 14 million children in the U.S. live in food-insecure households. 
    • Approximately 38.5 million people are food insecure in the U.S and rely on SNAP as a vital monthly supplement. 
    • Nearly two-thirds of SNAP participants are children (40%), the elderly (18%) and disabled, non-elderly adults (10%). 
    • About 21 million children rely on free or reduced-price lunches for their nutritional needs on an average school day, and approximately 12.2 million children receive breakfast meals free or at a reduced price. 
    • The average SNAP household has about 1.9 people, with a gross monthly income of $872 which remains well below the strict national income limits. 
    • SNAP serves as a vital supplement to the monthly food budget of approximately 42.1 million low-income individuals. 
    • Approximately 14 million children in America live in households without consistent access to adequate food. 
    • The average monthly SNAP benefit per person has increased to $298, or about $6 per person per day. 
    • 90% of SNAP benefits are redeemed by day 21 of the benefit period, meaning most SNAP benefits do not last recipients throughout the entire month. 

                                                       The data represents the most current available information as of early 2026. 

     

  • In Michigan, approximately 1,544,250 people are struggling with hunger – and about 402,680 are children. 
  • Around 480,000, or 9.7% of employed adults earning a minimum wage of $13.37 (Michigan’s 2026 minimum wage) live in food-insecure households, and approximately 298,000, or 13.8% of children live in food-insecure households. 
  • Approximately 715,000 school-aged children in Michigan are eligible to receive free or reduced-price school lunches in public schools. 
  • About 1.5 million Michigan residents, or 14.5% of the state population, receive SNAP benefits. 
  • 14% of the population lives below the poverty line, with 18% of children and 10.6% of the elderly living below the poverty line. 
  • The average monthly food assistance benefit offered in Michigan is $325 per household. 
  • 40% of households served by food banks have at least one employed family member. They are considered the working poor, meaning that they don’t make enough to make ends meet. 
  • Out of the Michigan children who receive free or reduced-price school lunch, 42% live in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, or Wayne County. 

These figures represent the most current available data as of early 2026, showing some improvement in overall poverty and food insecurity rates across Michigan, though significant challenges remain. 

  • The population of Israel is approximately 10 million (as of 2026). 

      • The number of households in Israel (as of 2026) is around 2 million with an average household size of 3.23 persons. 
      • The number of people living below the poverty line (as of 2026) was approximately 2 million, representing 21% of the population. 
      • Food insecurity remains a challenge in Israel. Throughout the country, approximately 26% of households experience some form of food insecurity, with emergency food programs continuing to see increased demand. 
      • According to the National Insurance Institute’s most recent data, over 920,000 children live below the national poverty line, showing a slight improvement from previous years. 
      • Approximately 150,000 elderly citizens live below the national poverty line, reflecting modest progress in elder poverty reduction programs. 

      These figures represent the most current available data as of early 2026, showing some improvements in poverty rates while highlighting ongoing challenges in food security and specific demographic vulnerabilities.