Global Hunger Index(GHI)

Global Hunger Index (GHI)

What does this indicator tell us?

The global hunger index is a means of monitoring whether countries are achieving hunger-related SDGs(UN. Global Sustainable Development Goals) It can be used for international ranking.

How is it defined?

The global hunger index captures three dimensions of hunger: 

insufficient availability of food, 

shortfalls in the nutritional status of children, 

child mortality (which is, to a large extent, attributable to undernutrition). 

Accordingly, the index includes three equally weighted indicators:

 the proportion of people who are food energy-deficient, as estimated by FAO(;Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.)

the prevalence of underweight in children aged under 5 years, as compiled by WHO(World health Organization); and 

the mortality rate of children aged under 5 years, as reported by UNICEF(United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund).

 A regression analysis of the global hunger index on GNI per capita is performed to identify countries that are notably better or worse off with regard to hunger and undernutrition than would be expected from their GNI per capita. Countries are ranked on a 100-point scale, with 0 and 100 being the best and worst possible scores, respectively.

What are the consequences and implications?

Hunger is one of the world's major problems and, therefore, one of its most important challenges. Hunger and undernourishment form a vicious circle, which is often "passed on" from generation to generation. The children of impoverished parents are often born underweight and are less resistant to disease; they grow up under conditions that impair their intellectual capacity for their whole lives. Factors that contribute to a high global hunger index have been identified as low income and poverty, war and violent conflict, general lack of freedom, low women's status, and poorly targeted and delivered health and nutrition programmes.

GHI for India in 2023

GHI scale

≤ 9.9 low

10.0–19.9 moderate

20.0–34.9 serious

35.0–49.9 alarming

≥ 50.0 extremely alarming

In the 2023 Global Hunger Index, India ranks 111th out of the 125 countries with sufficient data to calculate 2023 GHI scores. With a score of 28.7 in the 2023 Global Hunger Index, India has a level of hunger that is serious.

Compiled by

Ms Naresh kuwar

Samadhan IT Solution