India ranked 105th out of 127 countries in Global Hunger Index 2024

 India ranked 105th out of 127 countries in Global Hunger Index 2024

Updated:11th Oct, 2024 at 1:42 PM

The 19th Global Hunger Index (GHI) report for 2024 has ranked India 105th out of 127 countries, placing it among nations with 'serious' hunger problems. India lags behind its neighbours Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, while it ranks just above Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Jointly published by 'Concern Worldwide' and 'Welthungerhilfe', the GHI series tracks hunger worldwide, focusing on areas where urgent action is required. India’s score of 27.3 in the 2024 report reflects a serious level of hunger. The report notes a slight increase in the prevalence of undernourishment in India in recent years.

While India's 2024 score shows some improvement from its 2016 GHI score of 29.3, which also fell under the 'serious' category, it is still far behind its neighbours. There has been considerable progress compared to the scores of 38.4 and 35.2 in 2000 and 2008, respectively, both of which were categorized as 'alarming'.

The 2024 report is not directly comparable to the 2023 report due to a change in methodology and revised data. However, it provides comparative data for the years 2000, 2008, 2016, and 2024.

India continues to face severe challenges in child malnutrition, with the highest child wasting rate (18.7%) globally. The country also has a child stunting rate of 35.5%, an under-five mortality rate of 2.9%, and a prevalence of undernourishment at 13.7%.

While India has significantly improved its child mortality rate since 2000, child undernutrition remains a critical issue, with both wasting and stunting rates still alarmingly high. The report emphasises that although stunting has reduced since 2000, these indicators continue to pose serious public health challenges.

The 2024 GHI highlights that global progress in reducing hunger has stagnated since 2016, making the goal of achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 increasingly unlikely. Of the 127 countries assessed, 42 still experience either 'alarming' or 'serious' hunger levels.

The report also establishes a direct connection between hunger, climate change, and gender inequality, noting that “discriminatory norms and gender-based violence often place women and sexual and gender minorities at heightened risk of food and nutrition insecurity and climate change impacts while hampering their ability to cope with these challenges”.

Here are some ways to remove hunger in India: 

Improve agricultural productivity: Increase food production and availability with better irrigation, seeds, and technology. 

Improve public distribution systems: Ensure food is distributed equitably and efficiently. 

Promote dietary diversity: Encourage people to eat a more diverse range of foods, especially fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods. 

Improve maternal and child health: Promote breastfeeding, adequate nutrition, and immunization. 

Reduce gender inequality: Promote education for girls to improve their nutrition and reduce malnutrition. 

Reduce food waste: Reducing food waste can increase food availability and save money. 

Improve water and sanitation: A lack of water and sanitation infrastructure is a leading cause of hunger and malnutrition in India. 

Food fortification: Fortification is a cost-effective way to improve nutrition without changing people's regular food consumption. 

Biofortification: Biofortification increases the micronutrient content of staple foods through conventional crop breeding. 

Enhance food storage: The Indian government has implemented initiatives to enhance food storage. 

Eat Right India movement: This movement aims to cut down on salt, sugar, and oil consumption by 30% in three years. 

Mid Day Meal Scheme: This noon meal program seeks to improve the nutritional status of students in primary classes.