The latest ranking released by Action Against Hunger in its 2026 Global Hunger Hotspots report has identified Nigeria as the country experiencing the highest levels of hunger in the world.
The report, which reveals that two-thirds of the global population is facing acute food insecurity, recorded Nigeria at the forefront, followed by Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Syria.
Nigeria moved up from its previous position of 10th place, surpassing Sudan, which was ranked first in the 2025 report by the Global Network Against Food Crises.
In 2025, the 10 countries listed were grappling with severe hunger crises, often at risk of famine.
Sudan has now fallen to second place behind Nigeria in the 2026 report, while Palestine (Gaza), South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali have also been categorized as “highest concern” hotspots by the Global Network Against Food Crises.
Other significant areas of concern in the 2025 report include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Myanmar, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Chad, where conflicts, climate shocks, and displacement are exacerbating catastrophic food insecurity, with Somalia frequently topping the Global Hunger Index in various reports.
The recent publication highlights that over 196 million people are facing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic hunger levels across just 10 countries.
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It indicates that two-thirds of the global population suffering from acute food insecurity resides in these 10 nations.
The report presents figures derived from the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2025) and the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC 2025), identifying the 10 most critical hunger hotspots for 2026.
Nigeria (31.8 million people in acute food insecurity), Sudan (25.6 million), Democratic Republic of Congo (25.6 million), Bangladesh (23.6 million), Ethiopia (22 million), Yemen (16.7 million), Afghanistan (15.8 million), Myanmar (14.4 million), Pakistan (11.8 million), and Syria (9.2 million).
Furthermore, the analysis highlights three particularly alarming situations where hunger affects 50-100% of the population: the Gaza Strip (94% of residents), South Sudan (56%), and Haiti (56%).
Globally, approximately 673 million people experienced chronic hunger in 2024 (the most recent data available), while 295 million faced acute food insecurity across 59 countries and territories, marking the highest figures since the GRFC was first published in 2016.
“We are witnessing an unprecedented convergence of crises,” stated Charles Owubah, CEO of Action Against Hunger.
“Armed conflict, climate disasters, economic collapse, and now severe cuts to humanitarian funding are creating a perfect storm that threatens to drive millions more into famine.
“The international community must take immediate action to prevent a historic catastrophe.”
