In the recently released 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI), Uzbekistan holds the 21st position among 121 countries with adequate data for GHI scores. With a commendable score of 5.6, the country registers a low level of hunger.
Rankings for Uzbekistan and Central Asian Neighbors:
Uzbekistan ranks first among its regional neighbors, Kazakhstan comes in at 24, 4 positions above the Russian Federation. Kyrgyzstan comes in at 40, Turkmenistan at 49, Tajikistan at 67, and Afghanistan has the lowest score of 109.
The GHI index shows that all countries in the region have made strides to develop and their scores have steadily improved since 2000, apart from Kazakhstan which dropped 0.1 points. The greatest improvement was witnessed by Tajikistan with an improvement of 6.7, from 20.6 in 2014 to 13.9 in 2022.
But, what does this score represent?
The GHI is a comprehensive tool designed to measure and track hunger at various levels, focusing on raising awareness about the challenges of hunger. It provides a comparative perspective on hunger levels between countries and regions and highlights areas requiring urgent attention.
How is the GHI calculated?
A country’s GHI score is derived from four key indicators:
- Undernourishment: Percentage of the population with insufficient caloric intake.
- Child Stunting: Proportion of children under age five with low height for age, indicating chronic undernutrition.
- Child Wasting: Proportion of children under age five who are underweight for their height, showing acute undernutrition.
- Child Mortality: Percentage of children dying before age five, a reflection of the mix of inadequate nutrition and poor environments.
These indicators not only point towards calorie deficiencies but also poor nutrition. For instance, while undernourishment focuses on the entire population, child-specific indicators highlight nutrition challenges within this vulnerable group. The combination of these metrics offers a comprehensive view of hunger, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Uzbekistan's indicators show a steady decline in all indicators, signifying improvements across all areas.
Understanding "Hunger"
Hunger is a multifaceted issue. It often refers to insufficient caloric intake. But beyond that, undernutrition indicates deficiencies in energy, protein, or essential vitamins and minerals. On the other hand, malnutrition extends to both undernutrition and overnutrition, the latter associated with an unbalanced diet leading to conditions like obesity. This report’s “hunger” definition is based on the combination of the four mentioned indicators, reflecting calorie and micronutrient deficiencies.
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