At a glance
The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a yearly report that scores countries on hunger and undernutrition on a 100-point scale, where 0 is best and 100 is worst. It combines one population-wide indicator (undernourishment) with three child indicators (stunting, wasting and mortality). India's score is in the "serious" band, and the government has repeatedly disputed the method.
Key facts
- Publishers: Welthungerhilfe (Germany) and Concern Worldwide (Ireland), with IFHV (Ruhr University Bochum)
- First published: 2006 (IFPRI was a co-publisher in early editions)
- Frequency: annual, usually around World Food Day (16 October)
- Scale: 0 (no hunger) to 100
- Indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, child mortality (under-five)
- India, GHI 2026: 100th of 122, score 24.1, "serious"
- India, GHI 2025: 102nd of 123
- India's child stunting (2026 report): 29.3%, down from 50.0% in 2000
- South Asia score 2026: 23.5; world: 18.1
How it works
Indicators and weights.
| Indicator | What it measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Undernourishment | Share of population with insufficient calories | 1/3 |
| Child stunting | Children under 5 with low height for age | 1/6 |
| Child wasting | Children under 5 with low weight for height | 1/6 |
| Child mortality | Deaths of children before age 5 | 1/3 |
Severity bands.
| Score | Category |
|---|---|
| 9.9 or less | Low |
| 10.0–19.9 | Moderate |
| 20.0–34.9 | Serious |
| 35.0–49.9 | Alarming |
| 50.0 or more | Extremely alarming |
India's ranks.
| Year | Rank | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 107 | 121 |
| 2023 | 111 | 125 |
| 2024 | 105 | 127 |
| 2025 | 102 | 123 |
| 2026 | 100 | 122 |
Government objections. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has called the GHI a flawed measure: three of four indicators relate only to children and are shaped by factors beyond hunger, and the undernourishment estimate rests on limited survey data. It points to lower wasting figures in its own Poshan Tracker.
Recent developments
- 14 Oct 2026: GHI 2026 ranked India 100th of 122 with a score of 24.1 ("serious"), up from 102nd; Pakistan was 106th. Child wasting remained high.
Exam traps
- The GHI is not a UN report; it is published by NGOs (Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide). FAO's "State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World" (SOFI) is the UN report.
- A higher GHI score is worse; rank 100 is better than rank 102.
- Stunting is low height for age (chronic); wasting is low weight for height (acute).
- Child mortality and undernourishment each carry one-third weight; stunting and wasting one-sixth each.
Quick check
- Q: India's rank in GHI 2026? A: 100th of 122.
- Q: Which two indicators carry one-third weight each? A: Undernourishment and child mortality.
- Q: Which German organisation publishes the GHI? A: Welthungerhilfe.
Further reading
Sources
- https://www.globalhungerindex.org/about/
- https://www.ifhv.de/Publications/Global-Hunger-Index
- https://news.careers360.com/global-hunder-index-2026-india-rank-100-serious-child-wasting-worst-in-south-aisa-highest-ghi-score-nourishment-stunting-mortality
- https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/world-food-day-2026-india-ranks-100th-among-122-countries-in-global-hunger-index
- https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/global-hunger-index-2026-india-ranks-100th-among-122-countries/
In the news
Every time this topic has appeared in our current affairs, newest first:
- Week of 8–14 October 2026Global Hunger Index 2026: India ranked 100th of 122