Global Hunger Index 2026 India rank: 100th, as child wasting rises to 19%
Published
India is 100th of 122 with a score of 24.1, still "serious". Child stunting hit a milestone, but wasting rose to the highest rate in South Asia.
Original report · Explained
Data as of the Global Hunger Index 2026 report, read on 19 October 2026.
India ranks 100th of 122 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2026, with a score of 24.1, according to the index's India page read on 19 October 2026 (Global Hunger Index, 2026). That keeps India in the "serious" category, where it has sat since 2012.
Last year India was 102nd of 123 (Careers360, 2026). The rank looks better, but the four numbers behind it tell a split story: one indicator hit a milestone while another got worse.
India's score has barely moved since 2018
India's score fell from 25.8 in 2018 to 24.1 in 2026, a drop of 1.7 points in eight years (Careers360, 2026). The scale runs from 0 (no hunger) to 100.
The report says progress has slowed, Careers360 reported. India's 24.1 is also above the South Asia score of 23.5 and the global score of 18.1 (Global Hunger Index, 2026).
So which of the four indicators moved?
Stunting improved, wasting got worse
- Child stunting (too short for age) fell to 29.3% in 2026, from 50.0% in 2000. It moved from "very high" to "high" for the first time (Global Hunger Index, 2026).
- Child wasting (too thin for height) rose from 16.9% to 19.0%, the highest rate in South Asia (Careers360, 2026).
- Undernourishment (not enough calories) improved to 9.8% from 10.5% (Careers360, 2026).
- Under-5 mortality stood at 2.7% for 2023-25 (Careers360, 2026).
Stunting reflects years of poor nutrition; wasting reflects recent, acute shortfalls. That is why the wasting rise matters most.
Why the rise in wasting matters now
Roughly 1 in 5 children under 5 in India is wasted, on the 19.0% figure (Careers360, 2026). Careers360 also noted a forecast of a deficient 2026 monsoon, with a 60% probability of below-normal rain, which could put pressure on food supply.
What we don't know yet
- The ranks and scores of India's neighbours, which we have not checked
- Whether the government will respond to this year's report; its past objections to the method are not verified here
Questions people are asking
What is India's rank in Global Hunger Index 2026?
India is 100th of 122 countries, with a score of 24.1, in the "serious" category (Global Hunger Index, 2026).
Is hunger in India improving?
Slowly. The score eased from 25.8 in 2018 to 24.1 in 2026, but child wasting rose to 19.0% (Careers360, 2026).
Which indicators make up the Global Hunger Index?
Four: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and under-5 mortality. India's 2026 values are 9.8%, 29.3%, 19.0% and 2.7% (Global Hunger Index, 2026; Careers360, 2026).
Is child stunting falling in India?
Yes. It fell to 29.3% in 2026 from 50.0% in 2000 (Global Hunger Index, 2026).
References
- Global Hunger Index (2026) India. globalhungerindex.org. Available at: Global Hunger Index: India (Accessed: 19 October 2026).
- Careers360 (2026) Global Hunger Index 2026: India ranks 100th, in 'serious' category; child-wasting level worst in South Asia. Careers360. Available at: Global Hunger Index 2026: India ranks 100th (Accessed: 19 October 2026).
How we did this
We read the primary data on the Global Hunger Index India page on 19 October 2026 and checked the indicator changes against the Careers360 report. We set each of the four indicators beside its earlier value and the regional and global scores. The hero image is the index's world map of 2026 scores.
This story was produced, reviewed, edited and verified by the reporter before publication, with AI assistance where required.
Covered by 2 outlets across the spectrum: 0% left, 100% center, 0% right.
Who is covering this story
- Center (2): Careers360, Global Hunger Index