India’s Struggle with Hunger: Ranks 105 out of 127 Countries

By: Damini Mehta

Although India continues to be in the serious category of GHI, there has been considerable improvement relative to its 2000 and 2008 GHI scores of 38.4 and 35.2, respectively, both considered alarming.

India’s performance on the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024 is a sobering reminder of the challenges the country faces in tackling hunger and malnutrition. Ranked 105th out of 127 nations with a GHI score of 27.3, India falls in the “serious” category, highlighting its ongoing battle against food insecurity, despite being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. This article will analyse the GHI findings and compare India’s performance with its neighbouring countries, Bangladesh and Nepal, which fare significantly better.

India's Position on the GHI 2024

India's GHI score of 27.3 ranks it among the “serious” hunger-stricken countries, with roughly 14% of its population (approximately 20 crore people) classified as undernourished. This figure is comparable to the population of Brazil, underscoring the enormity of the issue. While India’s GDP grew at a rate of 6.8% in FY24 with a projection of 7.2%, making it the fifth-largest economy globally with a GDP of nearly $4 trillion, this economic growth has not translated into improved food security. One of the main reasons for this disparity is income inequality. With a per capita income of just $2,485 in FY24, less than a fourth of the global average of $13,920 in FY22, India's citizens, particularly the poor, struggle to cope with rising food prices, which have more than doubled in two years between FY22 and FY24 from 3.8% to 7.5%.

Interestingly, 2023-24 was also the year when India recorded one of its highest levels of food production at 332 million tonnes largely due to bumper crops in rice and wheat. However, this clearly has not helped India in its fight against malnutrition and hunger.

India's child stunting rate stands at 35.5%, while the child wasting rate is 18.7%—both alarmingly high figures that suggest a failure in addressing child malnutrition despite significant economic progress. Additionally, the country’s infant mortality rate remains concerning, at 26 per 1,000 live births, though this is lower than the global average of 28.

Progress over the Years

Although India continues to be in the serious category of GHI, there has been considerable improvement relative to its 2000 and 2008 GHI scores of 38.4 and 35.2, respectively, both considered alarming.

Child wasting in India has increased since 2000s when 17.7% of children under five were stunted which increased to 20.8% in 2016 only to decline to 18,7% in 2022, still higher than 2000s.

Between 2000 and 2022, child mortality has declined more than three-fold from 9.2% to 2.9%. During the same period, the percent of under nourished population in India declined from 18.3% to 13.7%.

Nepal & Bangladesh: A Comparative Story

Nepal, ranked significantly higher than India on the GHI, demonstrates how focused policy measures can improve food security. With a GHI score of 20.4 in 2024, Nepal is in the “moderate” category. Its per capita GDP of $1,091 in 2023 is much lower than India’s, yet Nepal has managed to significantly reduce its child stunting rate over the past two decades. Much of this success can be attributed to Nepal’s commitment to improving access to health and nutrition services, increasing household wealth, and enhancing sanitation.

Nepal’s constitutional reforms, particularly the 2015 enshrinement of the right to food and the subsequent Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act of 2018, have been instrumental in driving progress. The country’s focus on tackling malnutrition, despite its economic challenges, provides an important lesson in political will and prioritization of public health.

Bangladesh, another neighbouring country, has also surpassed India in its fight against hunger and malnutrition. In the 2024 GHI, Bangladesh scored 19.2, placing it in the “moderate” category, a marked improvement from previous years. With a per capita GDP of $2,529 in 2023, Bangladesh has achieved better nutritional outcomes than India despite comparable economic growth. Over the last few decades, Bangladesh has focused on reducing population growth, increasing female education, and implementing targeted nutritional programs that have led to a substantial reduction in child mortality and stunting.

While Bangladesh still faces challenges with food insecurity and poverty, its improvements in child nutrition, stunting, and overall health reflect a strong commitment to addressing hunger at the grassroots level. Bangladesh's efforts in increasing food production and its agricultural reforms have contributed significantly to its progress.

Facing Hunger Head-On

For data on India, the GHI uses the Sample Registration System statistical reports published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on an annual basis, with data such as on births, deaths, infant and maternal mortality, based on reports by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and NITI Aayog.

India's position on the 2024 Global Hunger Index is a wake-up call for policymakers to refocus efforts on food security, health, and nutrition. While the country’s economic progress is commendable, the benefits of this growth have not been equally shared, leaving millions of people food insecure. India can learn from its neighbours, Bangladesh and Nepal, which have implemented targeted nutritional programs and policies to combat hunger. These countries demonstrate that political will and focused interventions are essential for improving food security and addressing malnutrition, even in the face of economic challenges.