Ending Hunger by 2030 Costs Less Than 1% of Military Spending

Female participants of a food security livelihood programme sort freshly collected eggplants in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.

Ending global hunger by 2030 would cost just $93 billion a year — less than one per cent of the $21.9 trillion spent on military budgets over the past decade, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

By 2026, a staggering 318 million people are projected to face crisis levels of hunger or worse — more than double the figure recorded in 2019, the agency reported in its 2026 Global Outlook.

International support for the world’s hungriest is “slow, fragmented, and underfunded,” meaning many people in conflict-affected areas may not receive adequate help next year, the WFP stressed.

“The poorest pay the ultimate price,” said Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General. “When the elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers,” she added, quoting an African proverb to highlight how the weak often bear the brunt of conflicts between powerful nations or groups.

Across the globe, that “grass” — innocent civilians in Sudan, Gaza, Haiti, Yemen, the Sahel, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and many other regions — is suffering enormously. Families bear the consequences of wars they did not start and decisions made without their input, Ms Mohammed noted.

WFP, a critical lifeline

“WFP provides a critical lifeline to people on the frontlines of conflicts and natural disasters, as well as to those forced from their homes. We are also transforming our work to invest in long-term solutions to address food insecurity,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain.

In 2026, the agency plans to assist 110 million vulnerable people at an estimated cost of $13 billion, providing emergency food, nutrition support, community resilience programmes, and technical assistance to strengthen national systems.

“The world is facing simultaneous famines in Gaza and parts of Sudan. This is completely unacceptable in the twenty-first century,” stressed Ms McCain.

“Across the globe, hunger is becoming more entrenched. WFP has repeatedly shown that early, effective, and innovative solutions can save and transform lives — but we urgently need more support to continue this vital work.”

Investing in climate adaptation, promoting peace, supporting local markets, and ensuring women and young people have decision-making power are among the key priorities to end global hunger, Amina Mohammed added.