India in the Global Hunger Index 2026: Rank 100 of 122, Child Wasting the Weakest Point
India ranks 100th out of 122 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2026, with a score of 24.1. This puts India in the "serious" category, where it has been since 2012. India shares the 100th place with Ethiopia.
India's rank improved from 102nd (out of 123) in 2025, and its score fell (got better) from 25.8 to 24.1.
Two indicators improved: undernourishment fell to 9.8% of the population, and child stunting fell to 29.3%. Child mortality (deaths before age five) is down to 2.7%.
Child wasting (children too thin for their height) rose to 19.0%. This is the highest in South Asia and among the highest in the world.
Among neighbours, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka scored better than India, while Pakistan (106th, score 25.5) and Afghanistan scored worse. The world average score is 18.1. The 2026 report was released on 14 October 2026 under the theme "No Security Without Food Security".
Global Hunger Index (GHI)
The Global Hunger Index is a yearly report that measures and compares hunger in countries around the world. It gives each country a single score from 0 to 100. A lower score is better: 0 means no hunger and 100 is the worst. The score is built from four indicators: how many people do not get enough food, how many young children are too short or too thin, and how many die before their fifth birthday.
The 2026 report shows both sides of India's story. Stunting, undernourishment and child deaths have fallen, but wasting has risen to the highest level in South Asia. This keeps India in the "serious" category, even as its rank improved to 100th.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Anganwadi System
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is India's biggest programme for the care of young children and mothers. It works through small village and slum centres called anganwadi centres. These centres give extra food, pre-school learning, health check-ups, vaccinations (with the health department) and nutrition advice to children under six, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. It is the government's frontline tool against stunting and wasting.
Child wasting and stunting, the GHI's weakest areas for India, are exactly what anganwadi services are meant to fight. The gap between Poshan Tracker data and survey-based figures is at the centre of India's debate over the index.
- India in GHI 2026: rank 100 of 122 (shared with Ethiopia), score 24.1, "serious" category
- India in GHI 2025: rank 102 of 123, score 25.8
- Undernourishment 9.8%; child stunting 29.3%; child wasting 19.0% (highest in South Asia); child mortality 2.7%
- India's score: 38.1 (2000) to 24.1 (2026); fell 8.2 points in 2006-2012 but only about 1.7 points in 2018-2026
- Pakistan: 106th, score 25.5; Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka ranked better than India
- World average score: 18.1
- GHI 2026 released on 14 October 2026; theme "No Security Without Food Security"
- "Serious" band: 20.0 to 34.9