DHAKA — More than a quarter of Bangladeshis did not have sufficient food in 2023-25, according to a UN report.

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 report estimated that 26.2 percent of Bangladesh's population, or 45.4 million people, experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023-25.

The report indicates Bangladesh has made progress in reducing hunger, but food insecurity and the high cost of a healthy diet continue to pose major challenges, leaving millions vulnerable to malnutrition.

The global report was jointly released on July 21 by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the United Nations Children's Fund, the UN World Food Programme and the World Health Organization.

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The proportion of people facing such food insecurity has declined from 30.6 percent in 2014-16, but the latest figure indicates that the problem remains widespread, with millions still struggling to secure adequate and regular access to food.

The report estimated that 8.2 percent of the population, or 14.3 million people, were undernourished in 2023-25, down from 15.1 percent, or 21.9 million people, in 2004-06.

However, having access to enough food does not necessarily mean having access to a nutritious diet.

Nearly four in 10 Bangladeshis, 38.6 percent of the population, were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2025, the report said.

Although the proportion has fallen from 62.8 percent in 2017, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet still stood at 67.8 million in 2025. It was 101.8 million in 2017.

The cost of a healthy diet in Bangladesh also increased steadily, reaching $4.59 per person per day in purchasing power parity terms in 2025, compared with $3.09 in 2017.

Malnutrition

The continuing difficulty in affording nutritious food is reflected in the country's persistent level of malnutrition, particularly among children and women.

Among children under five, 10.7 percent or 1.7 million suffered from wasting in 2024, while 25.1 percent or 4.2 million were stunted. Percentage of stunted children was 38.3 in 2012. There was no earlier data about wasting.

At the same time, 5.8 percent, or 0.3 million, were overweight, highlighting the coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition. Although the percentage saw little decline, the population remained the same compared to 2012 data.

The nutritional quality of diet among young children also remains a concern.

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Only 37.6 percent of children aged 6 to 23 months achieved minimum dietary diversity during 2021-25, meaning most children in this age group did not consume food from a sufficiently diverse range of food groups.

The report also shows a decline in exclusive breastfeeding in Bangladesh.

It estimates that 53.3 percent of infants aged 0 to 5 months in the country were exclusively breastfed in 2024. The rate, however, has declined from 64.1 percent in 2012.

Women also face a significant nutritional burden. Anemia affected 37.6 percent of women aged 15 to 49 in 2023, according to the report, indicating that the situation has deteriorated. It was 34.5 percent in 2012.