Global Hunger Index

Global hunger index

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool used to measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and national levels. The report, published annually in October, describes the prevalence of hunger and undernutrition in individual countries and gauges both progress and setbacks in the global fight against hunger. GHI scores can be used to rank countries, and current results can be compared with past outcomes. An interactive map enables users to visualize data across different years and zoom into specific regions or countries.

The index was originally developed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in cooperation with Welthungerhilfe, a German aid organization, and was first published in 2006. In 2007, the Irish non-governmental organization (NGO) Concern Worldwide joined as a co-publisher. In 2018, IFPRI handed the project over to its longstanding partners Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide, who have continued the GHI as a joint initiative ever since. In 2024, the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) joined the project as an academic partner.

History

The 21st Global Hunger Index (GHI) is being released amidst intensifying food crises. After almost two decades of significant progress, the global hunger situation has deteriorated again compared to 2018. Currently, around 645 million people worldwide suffer from hunger. At the current pace, 57 countries will fail to achieve the goal of low hunger levels by 2030. This stagnation reflects the impact of mutually reinforcing crises. Violent conflicts and insecurity remain among the main drivers of hunger and malnutrition, jeopardizing decades of progress in the fight against hunger.

The 2026 Global Hunger Index also reveals that most countries with a serious or alarming GHI score are simultaneously heavily affected by the impacts of these crises. In many places, conflicts also hinder data collection, while declining funding makes tracking hunger generally more difficult. The experiences of the past two decades have shown that combining knowledge with political will and decisive action can certainly enable progress overcoming hunger.

In previous years, topics included:

In addition to the yearly GHI, the Hunger Index for the States of India (ISHI) was published in 2008 and the Sub-National Hunger Index for Ethiopia was published in 2009.

An interactive map allows users to visualize the data for different years and zoom into specific regions or countries.

Calculation of GHI scores

GHI scores
Level Value
Low ≤ 9.9
Moderate 10.0-19.9
Serious 20.0-34.9
Alarming 35.0-49.9
Extremely alarming ≥ 50.0

Based on the values of the four indicators, a GHI score is calculated on a 100-point scale reflecting the severity of hunger, where 0 is the best possible score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst. Each country's GHI score is classified by severity, from low to extremely alarming.

The GHI combines 4 component indicators:

In 2026, data were assessed for the 136 countries that met the criteria for inclusion in the GHI, and GHI scores were calculated for 122 of those countries based on data from 2000 to 2025. The data used to calculate GHI scores come from published United Nations sources (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Health Organization, UNICEF, and Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation), the World Bank, and Demographic and Health Surveys.

For 14 countries, individual scores could not be calculated, and ranks could not be determined owing to a lack of data. Eight countries were provisionally designated by severity based on other published data. For the remaining 6 countries, data were insufficient to allow for either calculating GHI scores or assigning provisional categories.

The 2026 GHI report finds that hunger is most severe in the regions of Africa South of the Sahara and South Asia, where hunger remains serious. Africa South of the Sahara’s high GHI score is driven by the highest undernourishment and child mortality rates of any region by far. In South Asia, serious hunger is driven by rising undernourishment and persistently high child undernutrition.

Hunger is designated as moderate in West Asia and North Africa with its GHI score rising again. Hunger is categorized as low in Latin America and the Caribbean, East and Southeast Asia, and Europe and Central Asia. According to the 2026 GHI scores and provisional designations, hunger is considered alarming in 8 countries (Burundi, Chad, Dem. Rep. Of Congo, Madagascar, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen) and serious in 36 countries.

Many countries are slipping backward: 32 Countries now face higher hunger levels than in 2018. In 20 countries with moderate, serious, or alarming 2026 GHI scores, progress has largely stalled and their 2026 GHI scores have declined by less than 5 percent from their 2018 GHI scores.

A small number of countries—including Nepal, Rwanda, Togo, Uganda and Venezuela—have made significant improvements in their GHI scores, even if hunger in these countries remains too high.

Country rankings

Country rankings as per the Global Hunger Index.

Legend

  Countries where hunger is low (GHI ≤9.9)
  Countries where hunger is moderate (GHI = 10.0–19.9)
  Countries where hunger is serious (GHI = 20.0–34.9)
  Countries where hunger is alarming (GHI = 35.0–49.9)
  Countries where hunger is extremely alarming (GHI ≥50.0)
Rank in 2026Country20002006201220182026Absolute change
since 2018		Percent change
since 2018
1-24 Armenia20.314.47.86.2<5——
1-24 Belarus<5<5<5<5<5——
1-24 Bosnia and Herzegovina9.56.3<5<5<5——
1-24 Bulgaria8.78.57.55.8<5——
1-24 Chile<5<5<5<5<5——
1-24 China13.89.1<5<5<5——
1-24 Costa Rica5.8<5<5<5<5——
1-24 Croatia7.4<5<5<5<5——
1-24 Estonia<5<5<5<5<5——
1-24 Georgia11.79.27.1<5<5——
1-24 Hungary<5<5<5<5<5——
1-24 Kuwait<5<5<5<5<5——
1-24 Latvia5.4<5<5<5<5——
1-24 Lithuania5.5<5<5<5<5——
1-24 Montenegro—6.5<5<5<5——
1-24 North Macedonia7.46.9<5<5<5——
1-24 Paraguay12.89.76.9<5<5——
1-24 Romania8.16.4<5<5<5——
1-24 Russia10.56.7<5<5<5——
1-24 Serbia—5.9<5<5<5——
1-24 Turkey22.111.65.4<5<5——
1-24 United Arab Emirates4.75.25.2<5<5——
1-24 Uruguay7.95.7<5<5<5——
1-24 Uzbekistan25.615.48.55.2<5——
25 Moldova18.318.96.45.45.0-0.4-7.4
26 Mongolia29.521.211.16.75.3-1.4-20.9
27 Argentina6.55.45.45.55.50.00.0
27 Brazil11.77.05.55.75.5-0.2-3.5
29 Azerbaijan25.315.510.67.15.5-1.6-22.5
30 Dominican Republic15.214.311.08.35.9-2.4-28.9
31 Kazakhstan11.913.08.86.16.0-0.1-1.6
31 Tunisia9.08.16.85.9Negative increase 6.00.11.7
33 Colombia10.711.28.76.76.1-0.6-9.0
33 Saudi Arabia10.512.58.16.36.1-0.2-3.2
34 Mexico9.79.47.46.86.2-0.6-8.8
34 Peru21.115.69.57.26.5-0.7-9.7
37 Guyana17.015.814.010.26.8-3.4-33.3
38 Cape Verde16.013.212.28.46.9-1.5-17.9
39 El Salvador13.612.210.07.27.0-0.2-2.8
40 Albania15.215.79.56.2Negative increase 7.10.914.5
41 Iran12.49.89.18.37.2-1.1-13.3
41 Panama17.313.410.38.17.2-0.9-11.1
43 Algeria14.111.99.17.1Negative increase 7.50.45.6
43 Jamaica8.38.48.37.87.80.00.0
45 Kyrgyzstan18.514.010.78.27.9-0.3-3.7
46 Venezuela14.311.07.116.78.9-7.8-46.7
47 Morocco15.716.49.48.2Negative increase 9.00.89.8
48 Jordan10.27.68.59.59.4-0.1-1.1
48 Lebanon11.011.47.07.2Negative increase 9.42.230.6
48 Turkmenistan19.815.311.79.99.4-0.5-5.1
* Slovakia————9.9——
51 Thailand17.212.512.211.410.0-1.4-12.3
51 Fiji9.29.510.49.6Negative increase 10.00.44.2
53 Sri Lanka22.119.920.811.410.2-1.2-10.5
54 Ecuador19.116.412.311.610.3-1.3-11.2
55 Trinidad and Tobago11.211.610.39.1Negative increase 10.51.415.4
55 Egypt16.514.616.011.610.5-1.1-9.5
57 Oman16.212.010.711.810.8-1.0-8.5
58 Vietnam24.222.115.612.911.2-1.7-13.2
59 Suriname14.811.010.510.8Negative increase 11.40.65.6
60 Ukraine12.810.89.79.8Negative increase 11.61.818.4
61 Iraq22.920.117.213.511.9-1.6-11.9
62 Honduras21.717.613.512.912.3-0.6-4.7
63 Tajikistan39.231.824.214.912.7-2.2-14.8
64 Libya11.914.617.012.912.90.00.0
65 Ghana29.022.117.715.513.0-2.5-16.1
66 Mauritius15.113.813.312.5Negative increase 13.20.75.6
67 Philippines23.922.220.115.313.5-1.8-11.8
68 Malaysia15.113.912.812.3Negative increase 13.61.310.6
69 Bolivia26.623.016.212.2Negative increase 14.22.016.4
70 Cambodia39.826.821.315.214.3-0.9-5.9
71 Indonesia25.028.822.517.014.4-2.6-15.3
72 Nepal37.030.824.418.414.5-3.9-21.2
72 Myanmar41.429.820.316.214.5-1.7-10.5
74 South Africa16.717.813.213.1Negative increase 15.42.317.6
74 Senegal32.523.619.516.215.4-0.8-4.9
76 Eswatini24.325.722.817.616.1-1.5-8.5
77 Cameroon36.829.422.219.416.9-2.5-12.9
78 Comoros35.727.725.119.017.6-1.4-7.4
78 Togo37.429.425.924.317.6-6.7-27.6
80 Gabon19.819.416.316.5Negative increase 18.01.59.1
81 Guatemala29.024.921.519.818.3-1.5-7.6
82 Gambia29.425.121.019.318.4-0.9-4.7
83 Botswana29.827.823.321.118.7-2.4-11.4
84 Bangladesh34.630.027.320.019.2-0.8-4.0
* Nicaragua21.317.214.312.110–19.9*-2.1-17.4
85 Laos43.829.521.520.120.0-0.1-0.5
86 Ivory Coast32.834.126.421.020.2-0.8-3.8
87 Tanzania40.331.826.823.920.4-3.5-14.6
88 Mali40.636.027.122.420.5-1.9-8.5
88 Uganda35.830.525.128.720.7-8.0-27.9
90 Mauritania31.325.320.119.3Negative increase 20.81.57.8
91 Republic of the Congo35.331.829.024.920.9-4.0-16.1
92 Rwanda49.635.727.026.721.0-5.7-21.3
93 Burkina Faso44.336.430.325.122.1-3.0-12.0
94 Guinea36.934.228.626.722.3-4.4-16.5
94 Zimbabwe35.632.527.825.922.3-3.6-13.9
96 Djibouti41.435.328.122.722.5-0.2-0.9
97 Namibia26.626.524.221.7Negative increase 22.91.25.5
98 Solomon Islands18.718.521.721.2Negative increase 23.42.210.4
99 Guinea-Bissau37.729.828.323.1Negative increase 23.90.83.5
100 Ethiopia53.042.331.224.924.1-0.8-3.2
101 Benin32.127.324.624.0Negative increase 24.30.31.3
101 Angola61.739.123.224.0Negative increase 24.30.31.3
103 India38.137.028.825.824.8-1.0-3.9
103 Malawi43.132.724.921.9Negative increase 24.93.013.7
103 Kenya35.629.823.423.4Negative increase 25.01.66.8
106 Pakistan36.232.931.624.0Negative increase 25.51.56.2
107 Mozambique46.936.330.831.625.9-5.7-18.0
108 Afghanistan49.838.131.528.4Negative increase 28.60.20.7
109 Sierra Leone57.747.233.832.328.7-3.6-11.1
110 Zambia51.143.836.828.7Negative increase 30.72.07.0
111 Papua New Guinea31.430.836.431.4Negative increase 31.50.10.3
112 Syria14.817.119.228.0Negative increase 31.53.512.5
113 Liberia48.040.836.032.432.3-0.1-0.3
114 Timor-Leste—44.130.027.3Negative increase 32.55.219.0
115 Central African Republic46.844.437.134.533.1-1.4-4.1
116 Niger52.740.938.134.434.1-0.3-0.9
117 Nigeria37.332.531.028.2Negative increase 34.36.121.6
118 Haiti40.139.331.730.4Negative increase 34.44.013.2
* North Korea43.832.629.027.420–34.9*-7.4-27.0
* Lesotho————20–34.9*——
119 Madagascar41.939.233.635.7Negative increase 36.50.82.2
120 Chad49.546.241.038.538.0-0.5-1.3
121 Democratic Republic of the Congo48.539.337.336.6Negative increase 39.52.97.9
122 Somalia64.460.859.651.147.0-4.1-8.0
* Sudan———26.0Negative increase 35.09.034.6
* Burundi  South Sudan  Yemen————35–49.9*——
For the 2026 GHI report, data were assessed for the countries available in the 2026 ranking sheet. If "—" sign is shown, data are not available or not presented. Some countries did not exist in their present borders in the given year or reference period.
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 The 24 countries with 2026 GHI scores of less than 5 are not assigned individual ranks, but rather are collectively ranked 1-24. Differences between their scores are minimal.


See also

References

  1. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Ruel, M.; Menon, P.; Nesorova, B.; Olofinbiyi, T.; Fritschel, H.; Yohannes, Y.; von Oppeln, C.; Towey, O.; Golden, K.; Thompson, J. (2010). "2010 Global Hunger Index - The Challenge of Hunger: Focus on the Crisis of Child Undernutrition" (PDF). Bonn, Washington, D.C.& Dublin: IFPRI, Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Torero, M.; Olofinbiyi, T.; Fritschel, H.; Wiesmann, D.; Yohannes, Y.; Schofield, L.; von Oppeln, C. "2011 Global Hunger Index - The Challenge of Hunger: Taming Price Spikes and Excessive Food Price Volatility" (PDF). Bonn, Washington, D.C.& Dublin: IFPRI, Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Ringler, C.; Rosegrant, M.; Olofinbiyi, T.; Fritschel, H.; Badiane, O.; Torero, M.; Yohannes, Y.; Thompson, J.; von Oppeln, C.; Rahall, J. (2012). "2012 Global Hunger Index - The Challenge of Hunger: Ensuring Sustainable Food Security Under Land, Water, and Energy Stresses" (PDF). Bonn, Washington, D.C.& Dublin: IFPRI, Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Headey, D.; Béné, C.; Haddad, L.; Olofi nbiyi, T.; Wiesmann, D.; Fritschel, H.; Yin, S.; Yohannes, Y.; Foley, C.; von Oppeln, C.; Iseli, B. (2013). "2013 Global Hunger Index – The Challenge of Hunger: Building Resilience to achieve Food and Nutrition Security" (PDF). Bonn, Washington, D.C.& Dublin: IFPRI, Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Saltzman, A.; Birol, E.; Wiesmann, D.; Prasai, N.; Yin, S.; Yohannes, Y.; Menon, P.; Thompson, J.; Sonntag, A. (2014). "2014 Global Hunger Index – The Challenge of Hidden Hunger" (PDF). Bonn, Washington, D.C.& Dublin: IFPRI, Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Bernstein, J.; de Waal, A.; Prasai, N.; Yin, S.; Yohannes, Y. (2015). "2015 Global Hunger Index – Armed Conflict and the Challenge of Hunger" (PDF). Bonn, Washington, D.C.& Dublin: IFPRI, Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Bernstein, J.; Nabarro, D.; Prasai, N.; Amin, S.; Yohannes, Y.; Sonntag, A.; Patterson, F.; Towey, O.; Thompson, J. (2016). "2016 Global Hunger Index – Getting to Zero Hunge" (PDF). Bonn, Washington, D.C.& Dublin: IFPRI, Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Bernstein, J.; Hossain, N.; Brown, T.; Prasai, N.; Yohannes, Y.; Patterson, F.; Sonntag, A.; Zimmermann, S.-M.; Towey, O.; Foley, C. (2017). "2017 Global Hunger Index – The Inequalities of Hunger" (PDF). Bonn, Washington, D.C.& Dublin: IFPRI, Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Bernstein, J.; Hammond, L.; Patterson, F.; Sonntag, A.; Klaus, L.; Fahlbusch, J.; Towey, O.; Foley, C.; Gitter, S.; Ekstrom, K.; Fritschel, H. (2018). "2018 Global Hunger Index – Forced Migration and Hunger" (PDF). Washington D.C.& Dublin: Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Bernstein, J.; Mukerji, R.; Patterson, F.; Wiemers, M.; Ní Chéilleachair, R.; Foley, C.; Gitter, S.; Ekstrom, K.; Fritschel, H. (2019). "2019 Global Hunger Index – The Challenge of Hunger and Climate Change" (PDF). Washington D.C.& Dublin: Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Bernstein, J.; Alders, R.; Dar, O.; Kock, R.; Rampa, F.; Wiemers, M.; Acheampong, K.; Hanano, A.; Higgins, B.; Ní Chéilleachair, R.; Foley, C.; Gitter, S.; Ekstrom, K.; Fritschel, H. (2020). "2020 Global Hunger Index – One Decade to Zero Hunger - Linking Health and Sustainable Food Systems" (PDF). Washington D.C.& Dublin: Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Bernstein, J.; Delgado, C.; Smith, D.; Wiemers, M.; Schiffer, T.; Hanano, A.; Towey, O.; Ní Chéilleachair, R.; Foley, C.; Gitter, S.; Ekstrom, K.; Fritschel, H. (2021). "2021 Global Hunger Index – Hunger and Food Systems in Conflict Settings" (PDF). Washington D.C.& Dublin: Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Bernstein, J.; Resnick, D.; Wiemers, M.; Reiner, L.; Bachmeier, M.; Hanano, A.; Towey, O.; Ní Chéilleachair, R.; Foley, C.; Gitter, S.; Larocque, G.; Fritschel, H. (2022). "2022 Global Hunger Index – Food Systems Transformation and Local Governance" (PDF). Washington D.C.& Dublin: Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ von Grebmer, K.; Bernstein J.; Geza, W.; Ndlovu, M.; Wiemers, M.; Reiner, L.; Bachmeier, M.; Hanano, A.; Ní Chéilleachair, R.; Sheehan, T.; Foley, C.; Gitter, S.; Larocque, G.; Fritschel, H. (2023). "2023 Global Hunger Index - The Power of Youth in Shaping Food Systems". Bonn & Dublin: Welthungerhilfe & Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ Welthungerhilfe (WHH), Concern Worldwide, and Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV). 2025.|https://www.globalhungerindex.org/pdf/en/2025.pdf | 2025 Global Hunger Index: 20 years of tracking progress: Time to recommit to zero hunger]. Bonn/Berlin: WHH; Dublin: Concern Worldwide; Bochum: IFHV
  16. ↑ Welthungerhilfe (WHH), Institute for Interna tional Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), and Helvetas. 2026. 2026 Global Hunger Index: No Security Without Food Security. Bonn/ Berlin: WHH; Zürich: Helvetas; Bochum: IFHV.
  17. ↑ Menon, Purnima; Deolalikar, Anil; Bhaskar, Anjor (2009). "India State Hunger Index: Comparisons of Hunger across States" (PDF). Washington D.C., Bonn and Riverside IFPRI, Welthungerhilfe and University of Riverside. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ Schmidt, Emily; Dorosh, Paul (2009). "A Sub-National Hunger Index for Ethiopia: Assessing Progress in Region-Level Outcomes" (PDF). Washington D.C., Bonn and Riverside IFPRI and Concern Worldwide. Retrieved 14 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ Concern Worldwide & Welthungerhilfe. "Methodology". globalhungerindex.org. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  20. ↑ United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). "Under-five Mortality Estimates". childmortality.org. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  21. ↑

Literature