UN report highlights Central Asia’s major gains in fighting hunger
Undernourishment in Central Asia drops fivefold in two decades, yet 14% still can’t afford a healthy diet, says FAO
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (MNTV) — Central Asia has achieved one of the sharpest reductions in undernourishment globally over the past two decades, according to a new report by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Yet despite this progress, millions in the region remain unable to access a nutritious diet.
Between 2005 and 2024, the share of undernourished people in Central Asia—a region that includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—plummeted from 13.1% to just 2.8%. In absolute terms, the number of food-insecure individuals fell from 7.8 million to 2.3 million, a dramatic fivefold improvement.
The FAO attributed these gains to stronger food security strategies, social protection programs, and a post-COVID economic rebound that helped offset the temporary rise in hunger during the pandemic years.
In comparison, the global undernourishment rate declined at a slower pace—from 12% in 2005 to 8.2% in 2024—with progress uneven across continents.
High cost of nutrition still out of reach for many
Despite the regional success in reducing hunger, a healthy diet remains unaffordable for millions. In 2024, the average cost of a nutritious diet in Central Asia was $3.78 per person per day (adjusted for purchasing power), lower than the global average of $4.46.
However, for low-income families, particularly in rural Tajikistan where earnings fall below subsistence levels, even this reduced cost poses a major barrier.
While the price of a healthy diet steadily rose between 2019 and 2023, 2024 saw a slight decrease—the first in five years—indicating possible improvements in agricultural supply chains and government interventions.
Nevertheless, 11.5 million people—around 14% of the region’s population—still cannot afford balanced nutrition. This marks progress from 19% in 2020 and 15.6% in 2023, placing Central Asia among the few regions showing consistent year-on-year improvement.
Progress in child health, but new nutritional risks emerging
FAO data showed clear advances in child nutrition. Rates of stunting in children under five were halved between 2012 and 2024, falling from 14.8% to 7.4%. Wasting—a form of acute malnutrition—dropped from 3.8% to 2.1%, while childhood overweight rates also declined slightly despite urbanization trends.
However, adult nutrition trends are heading in a worrying direction. Obesity among adults surged from 18.8% to 25.1% in the last decade, linked to sedentary lifestyles and rising consumption of processed foods.
Meanwhile, anemia among women of reproductive age remains stubbornly high at 32%, highlighting persistent micronutrient deficiencies—especially among pregnant women and adolescent girls.
Food insecurity risks after Ukraine war
Regional food systems were further strained after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and subsequent export restrictions from Russia and Kazakhstan—both major suppliers of wheat and other staples to Central Asia.
Price spikes in basic goods forced many households to rely on cheaper, less nutritious options, disproportionately affecting children and vulnerable groups.
The FAO called on Central Asian governments to expand food subsidies, maintain emergency reserves, and scale up school meal and social protection programs. Special focus is needed in mountainous and remote areas, where aid access remains inconsistent.
Global context: hunger far from over
Globally, about 673 million people—or 8.2% of the world’s population—faced hunger in 2024. While this is a slight improvement from 8.5% in 2023, the UN warns that unless urgent and coordinated action is taken, more than half a billion people could still be chronically undernourished by 2030—undermining global commitments to end hunger.
The report urged the international community to invest in resilient food systems and address structural inequalities that leave millions without access to basic nutrition, especially in the face of conflict, climate change, and economic shocks.
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