Food prices continue to rise in the world’s poorest countries

Survey data released today by international aid agency, World Vision, entitled Price Shocks 2025 shows that high food prices continue to push vulnerable families deeper into hunger, despite signs of price stabilisation in wealthier nations. The report, which analyses food costs across 77 countries, highlights a worsening crisis in conflict-affected and climate-vulnerable regions, where food remains unaffordable for millions.

According to the latest findings, in 16 countries, it now takes over a full week of work to afford a basic food basket. Almost 300 million people worldwide are experiencing acute hunger, with the vast majority living in conflict zones and fragile economies. Meanwhile, in countries such as Burundi and Sudan, the cost of essential food items has soared, forcing families to make impossible choices between eating, healthcare, or education.

“The world is experiencing a hunger pandemic,” said Amanda Rives, Senior Director, Disaster Management at World Vision International. “For millions of families, food is not just expensive, it is out of reach. No child should go to bed hungry in a world that produces more than enough food for everyone.”

Key findings from the 2025 report:

• Food prices remain alarmingly high in the poorest countries. In Burundi, the average person must now work 47 days to afford 10 basic food items—the highest recorded in the survey. In Sudan, the required labour time has increased by 42% since last year.
• Growing global inequality in food access. In Germany, it takes just 1.5 hours to afford a basic food basket, while in the Central African Republic, it takes 30 days. This stark divide highlights the disproportionate impact of inflation and economic instability on low-income nations.
• The hunger crisis is worsening for children. 36 million children under five are now acutely malnourished across 32 countries, putting them at extreme risk of illness and death.
• Aid is falling short. In 2024, only 47% of required humanitarian food assistance was funded, leaving millions without support.

Conflict, Climate and Economic Shocks Driving Hunger

World Vision’s analysis identifies conflict, climate change and economic instability as the primary drivers of rising food insecurity. The ongoing war in Sudan, prolonged droughts in the Horn of Africa and the economic fallout of global inflation have all contributed to worsening conditions. Countries dependent on agriculture and imports have been particularly hard hit, with food prices increasing by up to 50% year-on-year in some regions.

“We are at a breaking point,” said Rives. “Governments and the global community fulfil the commitments they have made and act now to scale up food aid, support smallholder farmers and invest in long-term solutions to prevent millions more from falling into famine.”

ENDS

For further information please contact:

To request an interview with Amanda, please contact Annila Harris 

To read the full Price Shocks 2025 report, visit: www.wvi.org/price-shocks-2025

Background:

In response to the global hunger crisis, World Vision has been conducting an annual food price survey since 2021, monitoring both year on year fluctuations in food prices, as well as comparing the cost of a standard food basket in terms of hours worked between countries. This report is the fourth iteration of our annual survey and includes data from almost 80 countries where World Vision works.

The data for the survey is based on data collected by World Vision staff and volunteers. They collected local prices for a food basket of 10 common food items: 1 kilogramme sweet bananas, 1 kilogramme rice, 1 kilogramme wheat flour, 1 kilogramme raw sugar, 1 kilogramme maize corn, a dozen eggs, 1 litre cooking oil, 1 raw chicken, 1 kilogramme tomatoes, 1 litre fresh milk. 

Data is collected twice a year in May and September 2024. Each round of data collection took place in a range of locations across the country, including rural and urban locations and formal and informal markets. To compare prices across countries, the total cost of the food baskets were converted to U.S. dollars using current currency exchange rates, then converted to Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) exchange rates. These prices were then compared to each country’s Gross National Income (GNI) PPP per capita to calculate the amount of time required to earn the common food basket in each country. Results assume an eight-hour workday.

About World Vision 

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.wvi.org/world-food-day or follow on X, formerly known as Twitter, @WorldVision.