Pakistan ranks 106th out of 122 countries on the 2026 Global Hunger Index, with 16.1% of its population undernourished and 33.6% of children under five stunted. Its score of 25.5 indicates a serious level of hunger and is the second-highest in South Asia, behind Afghanistan's 28.6, while the regional average is 23.5 and the global score is 18.1. Pakistan's score has nonetheless improved from 36.2 in 2000. The report also finds that 9.8% of children under five are wasted and 5.6% die before reaching age five. The findings came days after the IMF projected Pakistan's inflation rising from 7.1% in fiscal 2025-26 to 9.9% in fiscal 2026-27.
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- Pakistan ranks second - worst in South Asia on hunger index : report
Pakistan ranks second-worst in South Asia on the 2026 Global Hunger Index with a score of 25.5, behind only Afghanistan at 28.6, a level the report describes as serious hunger. The South Asia regional average is 23.5 and the global score is 18.1, while Pakistan's score has improved from 36.2 in 2000. It ranks 106th out of 122 countries with sufficient data. The report found that 16.1% of the population is undernourished, 33.6% of children under five are stunted, 9.8% are wasted and 5.6% die before age five. The findings came days after the IMF projected Pakistan's inflation to rise to 9.9% in fiscal 2026-27 from 7.1% in 2025-26.
- Pakistan ranks worst in South Asia on 2026 Global Hunger Index as food insecurity deepens
- Pakistan ranks worst in South Asia on 2026 Global Hunger Index as food insecurity deepens
Pakistan recorded the worst performance in South Asia in the 2026 Global Hunger Index, according to a report jointly prepared by Welthungerhilfe, the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at Ruhr University Bochum, and Helvetas. The report links Pakistan's worsening food insecurity to economic instability, rising food inflation, climate-related disasters and conflicts, with its undernourishment indicator moving from low to medium since 2018 and child wasting approaching the high category. South Asia's overall score is 23.5, in the serious category, improved from 37.5 in 2000 but mostly before 2018. FAO estimates put 218 million people across South Asia, including Iran, as undernourished in 2023–2025, about one-third of the global total.
- Pakistan ranks worst in South Asia on 2026 Global Hunger Index as food insecurity deepens
Pakistan recorded the worst performance in South Asia in the 2026 Global Hunger Index, a report jointly prepared by Welthungerhilfe, Ruhr University Bochum's institute and Helvetas, as economic instability, soaring food prices and climate shocks deepen food insecurity. Hunger reduction across the region has largely stalled, with Pakistan and Afghanistan worsening since 2018; Pakistan's undernourishment indicator moved from low to medium, and child wasting approached the high category. South Asia scored 23.5, still in the serious category, improved from 37.5 in 2000, though most of that progress came before 2018. Pakistan's child stunting continues to decline while Afghanistan's has slightly increased, and child mortality has improved in both countries. Floods in Pakistan and Bangladesh and insufficient rainfall and high temperatures in Afghanistan could prolong acute food insecurity, and the FAO estimates 218 million people in South Asia, including Iran, were undernourished in 2023–2025, about one-third of the global total.
- Pakistan ranks worst in South Asia on 2026 Global Hunger Index as food insecurity deepens
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