Global Hunger Index 2023: India’s Decline to 111th Place

In the 2023 Global Hunger Index (GHI), India dropped to the 111th place out of 125 countries from its 107th position in the previous year. The report revealed that India has the highest child wasting rate globally at 18.7 percent from 2018-22, indicating acute undernutrition. The undernourishment rate stands at 16.6 percent, under-five mortality rate at 3.1 percent, and high prevalence of anemia in women aged 15 to 24 years at 58.1 percent. This led to an overall GHI score of 28.7, placing India in the "serious" category. Comparing with neighbors, Pakistan stands at 102nd place, Bangladesh at 81st, Nepal at 69th, and Sri Lanka at 60th, raising concerns about India's ability to address hunger. On the other hand, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Chile, China, and Croatia are the top performers in the GHI 2023, while Chad, Niger, Lesotho, Congo, Yemen, Madagascar, and Central African Republic are at the bottom of the index.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

  1. The Global Hunger Index is an important annual assessment addressing global hunger levels and is published by Concern Worldwide and Welt Hunger Hilfe.
  2. In 2023, India dropped four places to 111th position from its 107th place in 2022.
  3. Key findings of the report revealed alarming data about India: the highest global child wasting rate, significant undernourishment rate, a high under-five mortality rate, and a disturbing prevalence of anemia in young women.
  4. India's GHI score of 28.7 classifies the country's hunger situation as "serious".
  5. Comparison with neighboring countries reveals India's dire position in addressing hunger effectively.