Pakistan Ranks Second-Worst in South Asia for Hunger as Child Malnutrition Persists.
By: The Media Line
Pakistan has ranked second-worst in South Asia on the 2026 Global Hunger Index, with persistent undernourishment and child malnutrition highlighting the country’s continuing food security challenges, according to the report.
The Global Hunger Index gives Pakistan a score of 25.5 and ranks it 106th among 122 countries assessed.
The index classifies Pakistan’s hunger level as “serious,” placing it behind only Afghanistan in South Asia. Afghanistan recorded a score of 28.6, while the regional average stood at 23.5 and the global score at 18.1.
Pakistan scored 25.5 on the 2026 Global Hunger Index, ranking 106th among 122 countries assessed.
The index, jointly published by Welthungerhilfe, the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at Ruhr University Bochum in Germany, and Swiss development organization Helvetas, assesses hunger through four indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and under-five mortality.
It classified Pakistan’s hunger level as “serious,” placing it behind only Afghanistan in South Asia, which recorded a score of 28.6.
According to the Global Hunger Index, an estimated 16.1 percent of Pakistan’s population is undernourished, meaning they do not receive sufficient calories to meet their dietary energy requirements.
The report also estimates that 33.6 percent of children under five suffer from stunting, a condition associated with chronic undernutrition that can impair physical growth and development.
The index further estimates that 9.8 percent of Pakistani children under five experience wasting, which reflects low weight for their height and is associated with acute undernutrition. The under-five mortality rate stands at 5.6 percent, according to the report.
The findings highlight the difficulties facing vulnerable households amid economic instability and rising food prices. Higher living costs can weaken families’ purchasing power and make it harder to maintain a nutritious diet, particularly for low-income households that spend a large share of their earnings on food.
Extreme weather and climate-related shocks have added to food security concerns across the region. Flooding and heavy rains can damage crops, disrupt supply chains and reduce household incomes, while unfavourable weather conditions can affect agricultural production and food availability.
The Global Hunger Index report estimates that 218 million people across South Asia, including Iran, experienced undernourishment between 2023 and 2025, accounting for roughly one-third of the global total.
It notes that although the region’s hunger score improved substantially after 2000, progress has largely stagnated since 2018.
Globally, the index’s score rose from 17.6 in 2018 to 18.1 in 2026. The report identifies armed conflicts and increasingly frequent extreme weather events among the factors undermining food security, while rising fuel, transportation and fertilizer costs have added pressure to food systems.
Despite the concerning ranking, Pakistan has made long-term progress. The Global Hunger Index records a decline in the country’s score from 36.2 in 2000 to 25.5 in 2026, moving it from the “alarming” category into the “serious” category. However, the latest figures indicate that widespread undernutrition and child malnutrition remain significant challenges.
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