Final answer:
Approximately 1 billion people worldwide suffer from chronic hunger, with over 820 million not having enough to eat and high rates of undernutrition, particularly among children. Poverty and lack of access to food are major contributing factors to this global crisis.
Step-by-step explanation:
For the world as a whole, the number of people who suffer from chronic hunger is close to 1 billion. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 841 million people are chronically undernourished, which includes 200 million children under 5 years of age facing chronic protein and energy deficiencies.
Furthermore, more than 820 million people globally do not have enough to eat, and rates of undernutrition leading to stunted growth in children under five are worryingly high in many parts of the world.
In the context of food insecurity, poverty, not food availability, is a major driver. Even though there is sufficient food production globally, economic access to food remains a significant barrier, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Enhancing agricultural productivity can help increase rural household incomes and food access but is insufficient without also tackling poverty and ensuring equitable food distribution.