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Advik Sunanda Mohan
29 October 2026 |
On 14 October, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) Report was released. The report was jointly published by German private aid agency Welthungerhilfe, the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at Ruhr University Bochum and Swiss organization Helvetas. The GHI report calculates the total levels of hunger across countries, at global, national and regional levels. Additionally, it looks into the broader and systemic reasons behind the perpetuation of global hunger, such as geopolitical tensions and continuing conflicts, climate change and economic shocks. The theme of “No Security Without Food Security” embodies this well. The report’s stated objective is to help draw greater awareness to the regions of the world particularly suffering from food insecurity.
The GHI score of every country in the report was calculated using four indicators; namely undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality. These indicators look at the availability of food for the broader population, as well as looking specifically at children who lack access to nutrition.
Following are major takeaways from the report:
1. Increase in global hunger levels after years of decline
The global score of the GIH showed the current score of global hunger to be 18.1 higher than 17.6 recorded in 2018. Additionally. 32 countries saw an increase in hunger levels, compared to 2018. More worryingly, 8 countries including Yemen, the DRC, Somalia and Sudan face what is described as alarming levels of hunger. The indicators of child wasting and stunting, alongside undernourishment compared to 2018 saw an increase. An estimated 645 million people were undernourished, as of 2025 according to the report.
2. Sub- Saharan Africa, South Asia and West Asia have the highest levels of food insecurity
South of the Sahara in Africa has the world’s highest level of hunger, with a GHI score of 27.5. This score reflects a decline from the previous point in 2018. The region records the highest global rates of child stunting, undernourishment and child mortality, alongside the second highest rate of wasting. Seven countries are classified as alarming, indicating a significantly high level of food insecurity. South Asia has the second highest GHI score of 23.5.
Afghanistan and Pakistan record the highest level of insecurity with 28.6 and 25.5 respectively. The matter for worry is that both countries have worsened since 2018, with Afghanistan in particular being classified as a country of high concern. In the rest of the region, India and Bangladesh have seen slowdowns in their progress. On the other hand, Nepal succeeded in reducing its rate from 37.0 in 2000 to 14.5 in 2026. The investments in nutrition-specific sectors, poverty reduction, maternal care, usage of large-scale volunteers in community health projects are cited as reasons for the Nepali success.
West Asia has seen an increase, with escalating conflict blamed for the same. Yemen remains in the alarming category with nearly one in two children stunted. Meanwhile, Gaza has witnessed one of the sharpest deteriorations with over 1.2 million people or 59 per cent of the population in a state of limited access to food. Lebanon has also dealt with greater food insecurity, as the GHI score declined from 7.2 to 9.4 with undernourishment at 11 per cent. 1.24 million people, amounting to over 20 per cent of the population were estimated to be in a crisis situation of food insecurity.
3. Latin America, East and Southeast Asia make progress amidst outliers
At present, Latin America has a GHI score of 7.4, well below 13.2 in 2000. The regions cited for the success include poverty reduction and healthcare expansion, economic growth and conditional cash transfer programmes in places like Brazil. However, there remains a distinct divide with the Caribbean which has an undernourishment rate of 16.6 per cent compared to 4.0 per cent for Latin America. The GHI score in East and Southeast Asia is 8.1, although it is worth noting that this figure is heavily influenced by the significant population and low GHI score of China. Five countries, including North Korea and Papua New Guinea remain in the serious category, with little progress made in tackling hunger. The overall trajectory of the region is one of improvement. Countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia have benefitted from growing wealth and access to services to make improvements.
4. Armed conflicts have a correlation with hunger risks
The report cited the growth of conflicts as a key reason behind the continuing food insecurity. At least 147.4 million people who were affected by high levels of acute food insecurity lived in conflict-ridden areas across 19 countries and territories. Additionally, the Uppsala Conflict Data program recorded 65 state-based armed conflicts in 2025, the highest number since 1948. Some of the countries worst affected by food insecurity such as Somalia, Sudan and the DRC are facing food crises linked with continuing wars. Additionally, famine was reported across two areas namely Sudan and parts of the Gaza Strip for the first time.
5. Climate change exacerbate food insecurity
The rise in extreme climate events has played a role in prolonging the existing food crises. The report cited the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data to inform that extreme weather was responsible for acute food insecurity in 16 countries and territories, with 87.5 million people affected. One region which has been particularly affected by this is Africa. For instance, El Nino- related droughts increased food insecurity in countries in Southern Africa like Malawi and Zimbabwe. Similarly, food availability in Somalia was deeply affected by recurring droughts and floods. Pakistan also witnessed heavy flash floods last year that destroyed infrastructure and affected over 6 million people; setting back its progress in combating child mortality and undernourishment. Another area where the constraints of climate events upon tackling food insecurity in a lasting manner can be seen are the Pacific island states.
6. Ukraine and Iran wars affect the food availability
Many countries are still recovering from the impact of the Covid pandemic which hampered economic growth and food availability. The Ukraine war also hampered food imports. However, things have been compounded by the US-Iran war which began in February this year. The war caused a sharp decline in fertilizer imports and food exports between West Asia and Africa. Moreover, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz increased shipping times, impacting delivery of humanitarian aid to places like Sudan. The example of Nigeria shows the multi-fold impact of these crises. The country entered a recession during the Covid pandemic, and has continued to face economic troubles. This has increased food insecurity as well.
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