Global Hunger Index Shows Long-term Decline But Level Remains High

The 2017 Global Hunger Index (GHI) indicates long-term advancement in decreasing global hunger. However, the progress has been uneven, with millions continuing to experience chronic hunger and many areas encountering food shortage and even starvation.

The 2017 GHI, published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Concern Worldwide, and Welthungerhilfe, follows the status of hunger globally, highlighting the areas where action to address hunger is most urgently needed. To capture the multidimensional nature of hunger, GHI scores are based on four indicators: undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting, and child mortality.

The report shows that out of the 119 countries evaluated, one country (Central African Republic) is in the extremely alarming range. Seven countries have alarming hunger index, which includes Malawi, Sudan, Zambia, Chad, Yemen, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. A total of 44 countries are in serious range (including Asian countries India, Philippines, Indonesia, and Pakistan); 24 in moderate range; and 43 in low range. The percentage of undernourished declined to 13%, down from 18.2% in 2000.

With these results, it is evident that more work is needed in many countries to attain the Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating hunger by 2030. Download a copy of the report from the GHI website.