República Dominicana becomes sixth Latin American country to reach zero hunger

República Dominicana has become the sixth country in Latin America and the Caribbean to achieve "zero hunger," according to the UN's 2026 report on food security and nutrition. The milestone, defined as less than 2.5% of the population suffering chronic undernourishment, marks the latest success in a region where hunger has declined for five consecutive years Source: elnacionalve.

Regional progress

The report, published in late July by several UN agencies, shows that hunger in Latin America fell by 4.8% over the past five years, leaving just over 30 million people undernourished Source: hoydo. Brazil was the first to reach zero hunger in 2012, followed by Costa Rica (2013), Uruguay (2015), Chile (2021), and Guyana (2021) Source: elnacionalve. However, one source lists Uruguay's achievement as 2005, creating a discrepancy Source: eldiado.

Policy patterns

FAO chief economist Máximo Torero attributes these successes to a coherent pattern: "Hunger decreases when agricultural, economic, and social policies reinforce each other" Source: elnacionalve. He emphasizes combining well-targeted social protection with productive agricultural projects. Brazil, with over 200 million inhabitants, has served as a model for other nations, even recovering its zero-hunger status after a pandemic setback Source: hoydo.

What's next

Despite regional gains, most countries remain behind. The challenge, experts say, is not inventing new formulas but sustaining long-term government commitment to anti-hunger programs Source: eldiado.