Global Hunger Index 2024 List: The 10 Most Affected Nations! Where Does India Stand?

To earn money, we all need energy to work and be productive. Additionally, this energy comes from nutritious food that provides the necessary fuel for our bodies to function optimally. 

Food is vital for maintaining our physical health and mental well-being, as it contains essential nutrients that support our immune system and cognitive function. Eating a balanced diet can also help prevent chronic diseases and improve overall quality of life. 

However, there are countries where people struggle to access enough nutritious food, leading to widespread malnutrition and health issues. 

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) issued a report where it released the list of more than 100 countries with the highest levels of hunger and undernutrition. 

Furthermore, some countries did not exist in their present borders in the given year or reference period. 

Here's the list of the top 10 countries with the highest levels of hunger and undernutrition, according to the GHI report. These countries face significant challenges in providing their populations with adequate nutrition and food security.

List of the Countries with the Highest Global Hunger Index

According to the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), which was released on October 10th, 42 countries have serious or alarmingly high hunger levels. 

The following list includes countries such as Yemen, the Central African Republic, and Chad, which have been identified as having the most severe hunger levels.

Source: GlobalHungerIndex.org

These high scores are primarily attributed to factors such as ongoing conflicts, economic instability, climate change, and structural inequalities that hinder access to food and resources.

 Reasons for High Hunger Index in These Countries

Conflict and Instability: Countries like Somalia and Yemen are severely affected by ongoing conflicts that disrupt food supply chains and displace populations. The wars and civil strife exacerbate food insecurity and hinder humanitarian aid efforts.

Economic Challenges: High inflation rates and economic downturns contribute to rising food prices and decreased access to essential nutrients. For instance, Chad faces economic instability that directly impacts food availability.

Climate Change: Severe climate events such as droughts and floods have devastated agricultural outputs in nations like Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This leads to reduced food production and increased malnutrition.

Structural Inequalities: Many of these countries experience deep-rooted social inequalities that limit access to resources like education and healthcare, further perpetuating cycles of poverty and hunger.

India's Position in the Global Hunger Index

India ranks 105th out of 127 countries in the 2024 Global Hunger Index. 

Compared to its South Asian neighbours like Bangladesh and Nepal, which are in the "moderate" category, India's performance highlights significant challenges in addressing hunger and malnutrition effectively.

Current Ranking and Challenges

India ranks 105th out of 127 countries, categorised as having a "serious" level of hunger with a score of 27.323. Key statistics reveal:

• 13.7% of the population is undernourished
• 35.5% of children under five are stunted
• 18.7% suffer from wasting
• 2.9% of children do not survive past their fifth birthday

Causes of Hunger in India

The high hunger index in India can be attributed to several factors:

• Intergenerational Undernutrition: Poor nutritional status among mothers leads to low birth weights in infants and subsequent health issues in children.
• Economic Disparities: Despite economic growth, inequalities persist that prevent equitable access to food resources.

Government Initiatives to Combat Hunger

India has implemented several programs aimed at improving food security:

• National Food Security Act (2013): This act aims to provide subsidised food grains to two-thirds of the population.
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme: A flagship program designed to enhance school attendance while improving nutritional levels among children.
• Poshan Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission): Focuses on reducing malnutrition through targeted interventions for women and children.

The Main Challenges India Faces in Reducing Hunger and Malnutrition

India faces several significant challenges in reducing hunger and malnutrition, despite having sufficient food production capacity. 

One of the primary issues is the inefficient Public Distribution System (PDS), which often fails to deliver food to those in need due to inaccurate classifications of households as below the poverty line (BPL) or above the poverty line (APL) and low-quality grains at distribution centres. 

Additionally, there is a lack of coherent food and nutrition policies and poor intersectoral coordination among various government ministries, which hampers the effective implementation of nutritional programs.

Moreover, intergenerational patterns of undernutrition persist, where poor maternal nutrition adversely affects child health, leading to high rates of stunting and wasting among children. 

Other contributing factors include micronutrient deficiencies, climate change impacts on agriculture, and socioeconomic inequalities that limit access to nutritious food.

Conclusion

Comparing India's GHI scores, the country, which was categorised as "alarming" in 2000 with a score of 38.4, has shown gradual improvement. 

However, there is still a long way to go to reach the target of low hunger levels by 2030. The government's continued efforts and investments in improving food security and nutrition will be crucial in achieving this goal.

The complete data is analysed from the list issued by the Global Hunger Index, which ranks countries based on four indicators: undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting, and child mortality. 

As always, rankings and index scores from this data cannot be accurately compared to rankings and index scores from previous reports. Therefore, the provided numbers can change significantly over time as countries make progress in addressing hunger and malnutrition.