Global Hunger Index 2026: Pakistan ranks 106 out of 122, reports one of the worst results in South Asia

Pakistan is ranked 106 out of 122 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2026 with a score of 25.5, placing it in the “severe” hunger category.

The report released earlier this week was jointly published by Welthungerhilfe, the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at Ruhr University Bochum and the Swiss organization Helvetas under the theme “There is no security without food security”. It highlighted the worsening food security crisis caused by economic instability, climate shocks and global conflicts, Dawn reported.

Progress in South Asia has also appeared to have largely stalled, with conditions in both Pakistan and Afghanistan deteriorating since 2018. Afghanistan ranked 108th with a score of 28.6.

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How is the Global Hunger Index calculated?

The Global Hunger Index is calculated using four sub-indicators:

1. Malnutrition: This represents the proportion of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient. According to the report, 16.1% of Pakistan’s population is malnourished.

2. Child stunting: Represents the proportion of children under five who are too short for their age, reflecting chronic malnutrition. In Pakistan, 33.6% of children in this age group are stunted.

3. wasting children: This refers to the proportion of children under five who weigh too little for their height, reflecting acute malnutrition. In Pakistan, 9.8% of children in this age group are lost.

4. Infant Mortality: This measures the proportion of children who die before their fifth birthday, reflecting in part the combined effects of poor nutrition and unhealthy environments. The under-five mortality rate in Pakistan is 5.6%.

A GHI score below 10 indicates low hunger, while a score of 10–19.9 falls into the moderate category. A score of 20–34.9 indicates severe hunger, 35–49.9 is classified as alarming, and 50 or higher indicates extremely alarming hunger.

The economic crisis and food inflation are worsening the hunger situation in Pakistan

Economic hardship and rising food prices have eroded purchasing power in Pakistan, making adequate nutrition unaffordable for many families.

The extreme weather also disrupted food production across the region, the report said. Floods and heavy rains damaged crops in parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh, while Afghanistan’s 2026 cereal growing season suffered from low rainfall and unusually high temperatures. These conditions could prolong periods of acute food insecurity, Dawn reported.

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Pakistan has been making long-term gains but has been facing setbacks since 2018

While Pakistan’s hunger classification has improved from “alarming” to “severe” since 2000, recent trends show setbacks in child malnutrition and wasting.

Malnutrition rates in Pakistan fell from around 20% in 2000 to around 11% in 2018, before climbing to around 16% in the 2026 report, moving from low to moderate. Child wasting followed a similar pattern, falling from around 14% in 2000 to 7% in 2018, before rising to almost 10% in the latest report, close to the threshold for the high category.

Meanwhile, child stunting in the 2026 report had decreased from around 40% in 2000 to around 34%, but remained very high. The under-five mortality rate steadily declined from about 11% to about 6% over the same period.

Hunger remains a serious problem in South Asia

South Asia’s regional score of 23.5 places it in the severe hunger category. While the region’s score has dropped substantially from an alarming 37.5 in 2000, most of that progress occurred before 2018.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 218 million people in South Asia, including Iran, face malnutrition in 2023-2025, about a third of the global total.

Globally, hunger is worsening again after almost two decades of improvement. The global GHI score increased from 17.6 in 2018 to 18.1 in 2026.

As of 2018, hunger has worsened in 32 countries, with 57 countries projected not to even reach the low hunger category by 2030.