The article presents the results of research on several criteria reflecting the level of food security in general across the world, individual continents, and countries, as well as the possibility of addressing the issue of hunger elimination. The objective of the study is to highlight the results of analytical work on three indicators that reflect the state of distribution of undernourishment, moderate and severe food insecurity; to identify factors influencing the state of food security and the percentage of hungry people; to develop proposals for improving the level of food security and achieving the goal of sustainable development, achieving "zero" hunger. To conduct a qualitative study, the following research methods were used: the method of real historicism, comparison, induction and deduction, synthesis and analysis, graphical and tabular. Based on the results of the study, the author's definition of food security was formed, which over the past fifty years has gradually changed under the influence of certain factors; it was noted that the problem of the hungry population in the world is gradually increasing, and according to the sustainable development goals adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, "zero" hunger in the world should be achieved by 2030. We essentially confirm that the global hunger trend is not declining, but rather increasing, and that no one will likely be able to solve this problem in the remaining four years. The measures proposed by the authors, aimed at eliminating global hunger and ensuring a high level of food security, directly involve greater responsibility on the part of international institutions and leading countries for the organization and implementation of crises, climate change, and the development of anti-crisis strategies for the future of humanity.