India’s 2024 Global Hunger Index Ranking: A Wake-up Call for Stronger Action
India has once again faced a grim reality in the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), ranking 105th out of 127 countries. Despite being one of the fastest-growing economies, India struggles with severe hunger and malnutrition, landing in the “serious” category. The GHI, jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, assesses global hunger levels and tracks progress in eradicating this persistent issue.
Key Findings:
1. India’s Hunger Score: With a score of 27.3 in 2024, India’s hunger levels are categorized as “serious.” While there has been a slight improvement from its 2016 score of 29.3, the nation still lags behind its neighbors like Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. This marginal progress points to deeply entrenched issues related to hunger and malnutrition.
2. Alarming Child Malnutrition: The report highlights India’s highest global rate of child wasting, with 18.7% of children under five suffering from acute malnutrition. Child stunting remains a critical issue, affecting 35.5% of children. These figures reflect inadequate nutrition during formative years, hindering both physical and cognitive development.
3. Undernourishment: Approximately 13.7% of India’s population remains undernourished, while the child mortality rate is 2.9%. Although India has made progress in reducing child mortality, the hunger crisis is far from resolved.
Challenges and Comparisons:
India’s performance in the 2024 GHI reveals a stark contrast to countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh, which have shown better rankings despite limited resources. Comparatively, India ranks just above Pakistan and Afghanistan in South Asia, indicating that economic growth alone is not solving the hunger crisis.
Despite some improvement since 2000, when India’s GHI score was in the “alarming” category, the pace of progress has significantly slowed. With just six years left to achieve the UN’s Zero Hunger by 2030 goal, the GHI report emphasizes that global efforts, including India’s, are insufficient. At this rate, the world may not achieve low hunger until 2160—far beyond the intended target.
The Way Forward:
To tackle these deep-rooted issues, India must prioritize food security, healthcare access, and maternal and child nutrition programs. The GHI report also stresses the links between hunger, gender inequality, and climate change, underscoring the need for a more integrated approach to policy and program design. Stronger public investments in healthcare, education, and rural development are crucial to break the cycle of hunger.
With India facing mounting public health challenges related to malnutrition and food insecurity, immediate action is essential. A comprehensive approach focusing on marginalized communities and sustainable food systems is needed to truly combat hunger and improve the lives of millions of its citizens.
These statistics highlight the persistent and serious hunger challenges that India faces in 2024. Addressing them will require urgent and multi-pronged strategies focusing on both short-term relief and long-term structural changes.
