India Ranks 105th in Global Hunger Index, Classified as "SERIOUS"

New Delhi, October 14, 2024: India has slipped to the 105th position out of 127 countries in the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), falling into the "serious" category, according to a report released yesterday.

The report, jointly published by Irish humanitarian organization Concern Worldwide and German aid agency Welthungerhilfe, highlights India's struggles with hunger and malnutrition.

India's GHI score of 27.3 is based on four key indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality. The data reveals that:

- 13.7% of India's population lacks sufficient caloric intake

- 35.5% of children under five suffer from stunting due to chronic undernutrition

- 18.7% of children in this age group are wasted due to acute undernutrition

- 2.9% of children die before reaching their fifth birthday

Neighboring countries Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka fared better, ranking in the "moderate" category.

"India's ranking is a wake-up call for policymakers to address the pressing issue of hunger and malnutrition," said a Concern Worldwide spokesperson.

The report warns that without significant progress, hunger levels will persist in many poor countries for decades.

By Fr. Suresh Mathew