Pakistan has ranked 106th out of 122 countries on the 2026 Global Hunger Index, recording the worst hunger score in South Asia apart from Afghanistan. The Pakistan Global Hunger Index 2026 score stands at 25.5, placing the country in the index’s “serious” hunger category.
The score marks a deterioration from 24.0 in 2018, a worsening of about 6.3 per cent. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two South Asian countries whose hunger scores have worsened since 2018.
Pakistan Global Hunger Index 2026: the key numbers
The index measures hunger through four indicators: the share of the population that is undernourished, child wasting, child stunting and the under-five mortality rate. On two of the four, Pakistan has moved backwards.
Undernourishment climbed from 10.9 per cent in 2018 to 16.1 per cent in 2026. Child wasting, a sign of acute malnutrition, rose from 7.1 per cent to 9.8 per cent over the same period.
There was progress on the other two measures. Child stunting fell from 38.1 per cent to 33.6 per cent, while the under-five mortality rate dropped from 6.8 per cent to 5.6 per cent. The report notes that Pakistan’s score, while worse than in 2018, remains well below its 2000 level of 36.2, reflecting long-term gains in nutrition and child survival.
The regional comparison makes uncomfortable reading. Sri Lanka ranks 53rd with a score of 10.2, Nepal 72nd on 14.5 and Bangladesh 84th on 19.2, all in the “moderate” category. India sits at 100th with a score of 24.1. Only Afghanistan, at 108th with 28.6, scores worse than Pakistan in the region.
What drove the deterioration
The report links Pakistan’s worsening food security to economic instability, the lasting effects of sharp food price increases and climate-related shocks. Heavy monsoon rains and flash floods in 2025 affected more than six million people, damaged farmland and infrastructure, and put fresh pressure on food supplies.
The monsoon damage followed a season of erratic rainfall across the country, which had already strained farm output in several districts. When harvests suffer, the effects reach household kitchens within months through higher prices for wheat, vegetables and cooking oil.
The index is published jointly by Welthungerhilfe, the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at Ruhr University Bochum and the Swiss development organisation Helvetas. This year’s edition carries the theme “No Security Without Food Security”. It draws on data collected across different periods between 2021 and 2025 rather than on 2026 alone.
What it means for Pakistani households
Behind the national score are household budgets under strain. As food prices rose faster than incomes, families cut back on nutrition first, often without realising it. Cheaper calories replace protein, milk and fresh vegetables, and children bear the cost in slower growth and weaker immunity.
That pattern fits the index’s findings precisely: undernourishment and wasting rose even as stunting and child mortality improved. Fewer children are dying, but more are going hungry. For policymakers, the message is that emergency food support and stable prices matter as much as long-term health programmes.
The regional picture adds urgency. South Asia’s combined score stands at 23.5, the second-highest of any world region after sub-Saharan Africa at 27.5. An estimated 218 million people across South Asia faced undernourishment during 2023-25, roughly one-third of the global total. Worldwide, the report estimates 645 million people were undernourished in 2025, and the global score has risen from 17.6 in 2018 to 18.1, reversing earlier progress.
Pakistan’s challenge now is to stop the slide before the next shock arrives. Stable food prices, targeted support for flood-hit farming districts and nutrition programmes aimed at young children are the measures the data points to.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pakistan’s rank on the 2026 Global Hunger Index?
Pakistan ranks 106th out of 122 countries with a score of 25.5, placing it in the “serious” hunger category. It is the worst performer in South Asia apart from Afghanistan.
Which countries in South Asia rank better than Pakistan?
Sri Lanka (53rd), Nepal (72nd), Bangladesh (84th) and India (100th) all rank better than Pakistan. Only Afghanistan (108th) ranks worse in the region.
Why has Pakistan’s hunger score worsened since 2018?
The report cites economic instability, sharp food price increases and climate shocks, including the 2025 monsoon floods that affected more than six million people and damaged farmland.
Who publishes the Global Hunger Index?
The index is published jointly by Welthungerhilfe, the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at Ruhr University Bochum and Helvetas.
