Decline in the number of hunger related deaths

Recent studies indicate that 24,000 individuals die each day of hunger-related causes, according to The Hunger Project, a global organization committed to the end of world hunger. This figure is a significant decline from the organization's earlier, widely-used estimate of 35,000 per day.

"While this number still represents a horrendous and unnecessary human tragedy, it also indicates that progress can and is being made," stated Joan Holmes, President of The Hunger Project.

The world does not have direct measurements of hunger-related deaths. The Hunger Project bases its estimates on conclusions drawn from various studies of undernutrition, malnutrition and mortality. This year, the Unicef "Progress of Nations" report summarized many of those studies by saying that one-half of child deaths can be attributed to hunger. While there are far fewer studies on hunger and mortality in adults, most experts agree that 3/4 of all hunger-related deaths are children below the age of 5. Over the past two decades, child mortality rates from all causes have fallen more rapidly than the rate of population growth, indicating an overall decline in hunger-related deaths.

When The Hunger Project began its work in 1977, an estimated 41,000 people died each day of hunger. Ten years later, that number had declined to 35,000. Now that estimate is 24,000 each day.

During the past 20 years, the world's average infant mortality rate (IMR), considered by many to be the best indicator of society-wide hunger, has fallen from 103 to 59 per 1,000 live births. When the IMR falls to 50 or below in a country, chronic hunger can be said to be ended as a society-wide issue.