Global Hunger Index 2024: India’s Rank and the Global Hunger Crisis

Introduction

Hunger and malnutrition continue to be pressing issues worldwide, and the Global Hunger Index (GHI) provides a vital tool for measuring and understanding the scope of the problem. The 2024 GHI report presents a stark reminder that hunger persists across the globe, with India ranked 105th out of 127 countries, reflecting a “serious” level of hunger. While countries like Belarus and China are performing well, India, a rising economy, still struggles with significant challenges related to hunger and malnutrition.

Understanding the Global Hunger Index (GHI)

The Global Hunger Index is an annual report produced by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe to gauge hunger levels across the world. First published in 2006, the GHI ranks countries based on their performance on four key indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality. The scores range from 0 (no hunger) to 100 (extreme hunger). A higher score indicates more severe hunger and malnutrition in a given country.

The 2024 report reveals India’s GHI score as 27.3, placing it among countries facing “serious” levels of hunger. This blog dives deeper into what this means for India, the global hunger situation, and the urgency of finding solutions.

Key Indicators of the Global Hunger Index

The GHI score is calculated using four primary indicators, which together paint a comprehensive picture of hunger and malnutrition in a country:

1. Undernourishment
   • This measures the proportion of the population that does not consume enough calories on a daily basis. Undernourishment reflects food insecurity and a lack of access to adequate food.
   • In India, 7% of the population does not get enough to eat, contributing to its high GHI score.
2. Child Stunting
   • Stunting refers to children under the age of five who are too short for their age due to long-term malnutrition. This indicator points to chronic nutritional deficiencies that can hinder physical and cognitive development.
   • In India, 35.5% of children under five are stunted, indicating that over one-third of young children suffer from chronic malnutrition.
3. Child Wasting
   • Wasting measures the percentage of children under five who are too thin for their height, a sign of acute malnutrition. This represents a more immediate risk of mortality, as it reflects a shortage of food and nutrients in the short term.
   • India has 18.7% of children under five classified as wasted, a high number that signals severe, short-term malnutrition.
4. Child Mortality
   • This indicator tracks the death rate of children before the age of five, which is often linked to malnutrition and inadequate healthcare. High child mortality rates reveal both a lack of food and a failing healthcare system.
   • India’s child mortality rate stands at 4.9%, a concerning figure that underscores the link between malnutrition and preventable child deaths.

India’s Hunger Situation in 2024

India’s score of 27.3 on the GHI puts it in the “serious” hunger category, a ranking that suggests a substantial portion of the population is struggling to meet basic nutritional needs. Although India has made significant strides in various sectors such as technology, industry, and infrastructure, hunger remains a persistent issue.

Contributing Factors to Hunger in India

Several factors contribute to the high levels of hunger in India:

• Poverty: Despite being one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, India has a large population living in poverty. A significant number of people do not have access to enough food, leading to widespread undernourishment.
• Inequality: India’s social and economic inequalities, particularly in rural areas and among marginalized groups, exacerbate the hunger crisis. Marginalized communities often lack access to resources, including food, healthcare, and education.
• Food Distribution: Inefficiencies in India’s food distribution system mean that food does not always reach those in need, despite the country producing enough food to feed its population.
• Climate Change: Climate change has disrupted agricultural production in many parts of India, leading to lower yields and increased food insecurity, particularly for small-scale farmers who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.
• Population Growth: India’s large and rapidly growing population puts additional pressure on the country’s food systems and resources, making it difficult to ensure food security for everyone.

Global Hunger: A Widespread Challenge

The GHI 2024 report highlights that hunger is a global crisis, with 733 million people worldwide going hungry every day, and 2.8 billion people unable to afford a healthy diet. Conflict zones, such as Gaza and Sudan, face particularly acute challenges, as war and instability further exacerbate food crises in these regions.

Top Performers: Countries Leading the Way

The report also sheds light on the top 10 performing countries in the GHI rankings for 2024, which have demonstrated low hunger levels. These countries include:

1. Belarus
2. Bosnia and Herzegovina
3. Chile
4. China
5. Costa Rica
6. Croatia
7. Estonia
8. Georgia
9. Hungary
10. Kuwait

These countries have implemented successful policies to reduce hunger and ensure food security for their populations, providing valuable models for others to follow.

The Road to Zero Hunger

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2—Zero Hunger—aims to end hunger, achieve food security, and improve nutrition globally by 2030. However, as the GHI 2024 report highlights, progress toward this goal remains slow. Without significant and coordinated action, millions of people will continue to suffer from hunger and malnutrition.

Necessary Solutions

To make meaningful progress toward ending hunger, a combination of actions is required:

• Improved Food Distribution Systems: Ensuring that food reaches those who need it most is critical. Governments and organizations must address the inefficiencies in food distribution to reduce food waste and ensure equitable access to nutritious food.
• Support for Smallholder Farmers: Many of the world’s most vulnerable people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Supporting smallholder farmers, particularly in regions affected by climate change, can help increase food production and improve food security.
• Addressing Inequality: Hunger is closely tied to inequality, and reducing inequality—both economic and social—is essential for ending hunger. This includes providing access to healthcare, education, and resources for marginalized groups.
• Climate Resilience: Climate change is a growing threat to food security, particularly in regions already struggling with hunger. Building climate resilience through sustainable agricultural practices and climate-adaptive technologies is essential to protect food systems.
• Political Stability and Peace: Conflict is one of the primary drivers of hunger in many parts of the world. Resolving conflicts and promoting political stability are crucial for ensuring that people have access to food and other essential resources.

Conclusion

The Global Hunger Index 2024 paints a sobering picture of the global hunger crisis, with India’s ranking at 105 demonstrating the ongoing struggle in addressing malnutrition and food insecurity. While countries like Belarus, China, and Estonia are making significant progress, millions around the world continue to suffer from hunger.

Ending hunger by 2030 is an ambitious goal that requires urgent action at both national and international levels. Solutions must be multifaceted, addressing not only the immediate need for food but also the systemic issues that drive hunger—such as poverty, inequality, conflict, and climate change.

Through collective efforts, there is hope that the world can make significant strides toward achieving Zero Hunger, ensuring that everyone has access to the food they need for a healthy and productive life.