The table illustrates the number of undernourished people worldwide between 2000 and 2009, while the line chart shows the global prices of rice and wheat over the same period.
Overall, the number of people suffering from undernourishment increased steadily during these years. At the same time, the prices of both grains rose significantly, particularly after 2006.
In 2000, around 857 million people were undernourished. This figure increased slightly to 862 million in 2002 and reached 873 million in 2004. The number continued to grow to 876 million in 2006 before rising more sharply to 924 million in 2008. By 2009, the figure had climbed dramatically to 1024 million.
Regarding grain prices, wheat prices fluctuated slightly in the early years but then increased rapidly after 2006, reaching the highest level in 2009. Similarly, rice prices remained relatively stable until 2006, after which they rose sharply, although they remained lower than wheat prices by the end of the period.