Global Hunger Index report for 2024
GHI is a tool designed to measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels.
Each country’s GHI score is calculated based on a formula that combines four indicators:
Undernourishment (Insufficient caloric intake)
Child stunting (Children with low height under age 5);
Child wasting (Children with low weight for their height under age 5);
Child mortality (Children who die before their fifth birthday).
Published by
Index has been released by Irish humanitarian organization Concern Worldwide and German aid agency Welthungerhilfe.
Undernourishment in India
India ranks 105th out of 127th countries, falling under "serious" category with 41 other nations, including Pakistan and Afghanistan.
India’s GHI score has fallen since 2000, however, child wasting and stunting remain very high.
Approximately 200 million people in India are undernourished, equivalent to the population of Brazil, representing about 14% of India’s total population.
This situation reflects systemic failures in addressing basic nutritional needs.
Impact of Income Inequality, Food Inflation, and Climate Change
India’s per capita income is significantly lower than the global average, leading to disparities in disposable income and food access.
Food inflation rose from 3.8% to 7.5% between FY22 and FY24, disproportionately affecting the poor.
Extreme weather events have damaged crops and impacted farm output, threatening food security despite record food production levels.
The combination of these factors contributes to high rates of infant mortality and child stunting and wasting in India, highlighting failures in healthcare and social safety nets.
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