Global Hunger Index 2026: Pakistan ranks 106th out of 122, reports one of the poorest performances in South Asia

A Global Hunger Index ranking compares countries using a combined measure of hunger and undernutrition. Pakistan’s position, 106th out of 122 countries, shows that it faces a substantial food security problem relative to many countries. The ranking matters because it places Pakistan’s situation in a global and regional context.

The more important figure is Pakistan’s score of 25.5. GHI scores from 20 to 34.9 indicate serious hunger. The score combines undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and under-five mortality. It is therefore not a simple count of hungry people or a single nutrition rate.

Pakistan’s classification has improved from alarming in 2000 to serious in 2026. However, recent setbacks are visible. Undernourishment and child wasting have risen since 2018, while South Asia’s overall progress has largely stalled. Economic instability, high food prices, climate shocks, and conflicts are worsening the outlook.

The Global Hunger Index is a tool for measuring hunger across countries and tracking changes over time. It uses four indicators: insufficient calorie intake, child stunting, child wasting, and deaths before age five. This combined approach matters because hunger affects both the food people consume and children’s growth and survival.

Scores below 10 indicate low hunger. Scores from 10 to 19.9 are moderate, while 20 to 34.9 are serious. Scores from 35 to 49.9 are alarming, and scores of 50 or above are extremely alarming. Pakistan’s 2026 score was 25.5, placing it in the serious category.

The index also shows direction, not just a single moment. Pakistan improved from alarming to serious since 2000, but recent trends have worsened. Globally, the score rose from 17.6 in 2018 to 18.1 in 2026, showing that hunger is worsening again after years of improvement.

Pakistan’s four GHI indicators reveal different forms of food insecurity. Undernourishment affects 16.1% of the population, meaning their calorie intake is insufficient. Child stunting affects 33.6% of children under five and signals chronic undernutrition. Child wasting affects 9.8% and signals acute undernutrition.

The fourth indicator is under-five mortality, which stands at 5.6%. It reflects, in part, the combined effects of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments. Together, these measures show that hunger is not only about whether families have food today. It also affects children’s growth, immediate health, and chances of surviving early childhood.

These figures produce Pakistan’s GHI score of 25.5, classified as serious hunger. Stunting remains very high, even though it has fallen from about 40% in 2000. Wasting and undernourishment have recently moved upward after earlier declines, showing an uneven recovery.

Pakistan had made important long-term progress before 2018. Undernourishment fell from about 20% in 2000 to around 11% in 2018. Child wasting declined from approximately 14% to 7% over the same period. Since then, both measures have worsened, pushing undernourishment to about 16.1% and wasting to 9.8% in the 2026 report.

The article links this reversal to economic instability and rising food prices. These pressures reduce household purchasing power, so families may struggle to afford adequate nutrition. Climate shocks add another strain by damaging crops and disrupting food production. Together, weaker incomes and less reliable food supplies make recovery difficult.

The setback is part of a wider regional pattern. Conditions in Pakistan and Afghanistan have worsened since 2018, while South Asia’s progress has largely stalled. Pakistan’s stunting and child mortality rates have still improved since 2000, but recent increases in undernourishment and wasting show that gains remain fragile.

Food insecurity worsens when people cannot afford adequate food or when food production becomes unreliable. In Pakistan, economic hardship and rising prices have eroded purchasing power. Families therefore face greater difficulty buying enough nutritious food, even when food is available in markets.

Climate shocks intensify that pressure. Floods and heavy rains damaged crops in parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. In Afghanistan, low rainfall and unusually high temperatures harmed the 2026 cereal-growing season. These events reduce production and can disrupt supplies, while weakened household incomes limit people’s ability to absorb higher costs.

The effects extend across the region. The report warns that these conditions could lengthen periods of acute food insecurity. South Asia’s score remains in the serious category at 23.5, and 218 million people across South Asia, including Iran, faced undernourishment during 2023–2025. Climate disruption and economic pressure are therefore reinforcing each other.

When food insecurity remains serious, households may be unable to provide enough calories or a balanced diet. The GHI indicators show the effects clearly: stunting reflects chronic undernutrition, while wasting reflects acute undernutrition. Persistent shortages can therefore affect children’s growth, immediate health, and ability to withstand unhealthy conditions.

Pakistan’s figures illustrate the scale. One in six people is undernourished, 33.6% of children under five are stunted, and 9.8% are wasted. The under-five mortality rate is 5.6%. The index explains that child mortality reflects, in part, the combined effects of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments.

The article does not quantify longer-term development losses, but established evidence links prolonged childhood undernutrition with impaired physical and cognitive development. Pakistan’s high stunting level shows why the problem extends beyond today’s meals. Without stronger food security, recent setbacks in wasting and undernourishment could undermine future health and economic progress.

Food security means that people can consistently obtain enough food for adequate nutrition and healthy lives. It is broader than producing a large harvest. Food must also be available to households, affordable, and accessible when they need it. Reliable food security depends on both supply and people’s ability to obtain food.

Pakistan shows why production alone is insufficient. Economic hardship and rising food prices have eroded purchasing power, making adequate nutrition unaffordable for many families. Floods and heavy rains damaged crops, while climate shocks disrupted food production. Even when food exists somewhere in the system, households may lack the money or stable access needed to consume enough.

The wider outlook remains difficult. South Asia’s score is 23.5, in the serious category, and 218 million people in the region faced undernourishment during 2023–2025. Food security therefore requires resilience against price shocks, extreme weather, and conflict, not simply more food production.