The Global Hunger Index, released on October 14, 2026, ranks countries by four key metrics: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and under‑five mortality.
India's score slipped from 37 in 2006 to 24.1 in 2026, a drop that reflects progress but keeps the country in the "serious" bracket.
Stunting fell from 50% in 2000 to 29.3% in 2026, meaning nearly one in three children under five still struggles with chronic growth faltering.
Wasting, however, hovered near 19% in 2026 after a brief dip in 2012, indicating that acute undernutrition remains stubbornly persistent; it signals immediate health risks.
Undernourishment fell from 18.4% to 9.8%, and under‑five mortality dropped from 9.2% to 2.7%, showing gains in overall nutrition and child survival.
Compared to neighbors, India outperforms Bangladesh and Nepal but lags behind Pakistan and Afghanistan; the global average stands at 18.1.
Health professionals should focus on community‑based nutrition programs to tackle acute malnutrition in children, ensuring that the gains in overall data translate into better health for every child.