Pakistan 2nd-Worst Hungry Country

Pakistan has the second-highest hunger score in South Asia, behind only Afghanistan, according to the 2026 Global Hunger Index (GHI).

Key points

• Pakistan's hunger score has improved significantly over the longer term, falling from 36.2 in 2000 to 25.5 in 2026.
• The report estimates that 218 million individuals in South Asia, including Iran, were undernourished during 2023-2025, representing roughly one-third of the global total.
• Although the region has created substantial progress since 2000, much of the improvement occurred before 2018.
• While 36 countries face serious levels of hunger and eight have alarming levels, hunger has worsened in 32 countries since 2018.
• South Asia recorded a GHI score of 23.5, the second-highest regional level after sub-Saharan Africa.

Pakistan's hunger score has improved significantly over the longer term, falling from 36.2 in 2000 to 25.5 in 2026. Nevertheless, the report indicates that the score rose from 24.0 in 2018 to 25.5 in 2026, making Pakistan one of only two South Asian countries, alongside Afghanistan, where hunger has worsened since 2018.

In practice, the report puts Pakistan's undernourishment rate at 16.1 percent, meaning that this share of the population does not receive enough calories. While 9.8 percent suffer from wasting, an indicator of acute undernutrition, among children under five, 33.6 percent are stunted, reflecting chronic undernutrition. The under-five mortality rate stands at 5.6 percent. Almost Half of Region's Poorest Residents Live in Pakistan: World Bank.

For context, the report links Pakistan's food security challenges to economic instability, the lasting effects of sharp food cost increases and climate-related shocks. While reduced household purchasing power has constrained access to food, heavy monsoon rains and flash floods in 2025 affected more than six million individuals and damaged farmland and infrastructure. South Asia's Hunger Burden.

South Asia recorded a GHI score of 23.5, the second-highest regional level after sub-Saharan Africa. It scored 27.5. While India scored 24.1 and Bangladesh 19.2, afghanistan scored 28.6. While Sri Lanka recorded 10.2, nepal scored 14.5.

For context, the report estimates that 218 million individuals in South Asia, including Iran, were undernourished during 2023-2025, representing roughly one-third of the global total.

Although the region has created substantial progress since 2000, much of the improvement occurred before 2018. While child wasting has worsened to 15.8 percent, the highest regional rate worldwide, undernourishment has remained largely unchanged since then. Pakistan Rejects World Bank's 'Poorest' Claim. Global Hunger Worsens After Years of Progress.

When the score stood at 28.2, globally, the GHI score rose to 18.1 in 2026 from 17.6 in 2018, reversing part of the progress created since 2000. The report attributes the deterioration to overlapping conflicts, climate extremes, economic shocks and disruptions to global food and agricultural supply chains.

While 36 countries face serious levels of hunger and eight have alarming levels, hunger has worsened in 32 countries since 2018. The report estimates that 645 million individuals worldwide were undernourished in 2025.

Meanwhile, the report warns that conflict, rising food and transport costs, extreme weather and reduced humanitarian funding are putting further pressure on food systems. It additionally cautions that an intensifying El Niño could worsen food and nutrition security in vulnerable regions.

Meanwhile, the Global Hunger Index measures hunger using four indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality. Its 2026 findings are based on data covering the 2021-2025 period. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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For now, pakistan 2nd remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.