About the Index
The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a peer-reviewed annual publication jointly prepared by the Irish humanitarian organisation Concern Worldwide and the German aid agency Welthungerhilfe, with technical support from FAO, UNICEF, WHO, and IFPRI. First published in 2006, the GHI measures and tracks hunger at global, regional, and country levels.
Methodology
The GHI is a composite index calculated using four indicators:
| Indicator | Weight | Data Source |
|---|---|---|
| Undernourishment (% of population) | 1/3 | FAO |
| Child wasting (% under 5 with low weight-for-height) | 1/6 | UNICEF / WHO / World Bank |
| Child stunting (% under 5 with low height-for-age) | 1/6 | UNICEF / WHO / World Bank |
| Under-five mortality rate | 1/3 | UN IGME |
Score interpretation: 0 = no hunger; 100 = worst. Scores are classified as:
| Score Range | Severity |
|---|---|
| 0–9.9 | Low |
| 10–19.9 | Moderate |
| 20–34.9 | Serious |
| 35–49.9 | Alarming |
| 50+ | Extremely Alarming |
India’s Performance
India ranks 102nd out of 123 countries with a GHI score of 25.8, placing it in the Serious hunger category. This is an improvement from 105th rank (score 27.3) in 2024.
Component-wise Breakdown
| Indicator | India’s Value | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Undernourishment | 12.0% (172 million people) | 13.5 million more than in 2016 |
| Child wasting | 18.7% | Second highest in the world |
| Child stunting | 32.9% | Affects nearly 1 in 3 children |
| Under-five mortality | 2.8% | Has shown improvement over the years |
Historical Trend
| Year | GHI Score | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 38.1 | Alarming |
| 2008 | 34.6 | Serious |
| 2016 | 29.3 | Serious |
| 2024 | 27.3 | Serious |
| 2025 | 25.8 | Serious |
Regional / BRICS Comparison
| Country | GHI Rank (2025) | GHI Score | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | < 5 (Low) | — | Low |
| Brazil | < 5 (Low) | — | Low |
| South Africa | 62 | 13.1 | Moderate |
| India | 102 | 25.8 | Serious |
| Pakistan | 109 | 28.4 | Serious |
| Bangladesh | 84 | 17.8 | Moderate |
| Nepal | 69 | 14.1 | Moderate |
| Sri Lanka | 51 | 11.7 | Moderate |
Key Highlights of Latest Edition
- Global progress toward Zero Hunger (SDG 2) has stagnated — at the current pace, 58 countries will not achieve low hunger levels by 2030
- India’s child wasting rate (18.7%) is the second worst globally, indicating acute malnutrition crisis
- Despite ranking improvement, India still has 172 million undernourished people — the highest absolute number globally
- Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Togo, and Uganda registered the most notable progress in reducing hunger since 2016
- Seven countries have alarming GHI scores: Burundi, DRC, Haiti, Madagascar, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen
- 25 countries with GHI scores below 5 are collectively ranked 1-25, reflecting near-elimination of hunger
India’s Government Response
India has consistently questioned the GHI methodology, particularly the use of FAO’s Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) phone survey and the disproportionate weight given to child wasting, arguing that these do not accurately capture India’s large-scale food distribution programmes like the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: GHI indicators and their weights, India’s rank, issuing bodies, hunger severity categories Mains GS-2: Government schemes for food security (NFSA, PMGKAY, ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyaan), child malnutrition interventions Mains GS-3: Food security, PDS reform, agricultural productivity, nutrition-sensitive agriculture Interview: “Why does India rank poorly on GHI despite being a major food producer?” — discuss paradox of surplus production with distribution failures
