Central Asia has seen a substantial decrease in undernutrition to 3.0% between 2020 and 2022, notably lower than the global average of 9.2%, experts from the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRS) shared. Despite this positive trend, acute food insecurity at 4.6% in 2022 and other nutritional challenges highlight ongoing regional efforts for improvement.
Experts from IMRS have conducted an in-depth analysis of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report on the state of food security and nutrition in Europe and Central Asia. The findings unveiled that between 2020 and 2022, the prevalence of undernutrition in Central Asia notably decreased to 3.0%, standing impressively lower than the global average of 9.2%. Specifically, Uzbekistan showcased exceptional progress, with undernutrition levels below 2.5% during the same period.
In terms of acute food insecurity, the year 2022 saw 4.6% of the population in Central Asia affected, a decrease of 0.4 percentage points from the previous year. Although a positive shift, this figure remains higher than the 2.3% observed in 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In absolute terms, 3.5 mn people were acutely food insecure in Central Asia in 2022, representing a reduction of 0.3 mn individuals compared to 2021.
The average value of moderate or severe food insecurity in Central Asia for 2022 was 17.4%, significantly lower than the world average of 29.6%. This reflects a 2.7 percentage point decrease from the 2021 value. As per FAO estimates, the number of people experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity in Central Asia in 2022 was 13.4 mn, marking a substantial decrease of 1.9 mn from the previous year.
Childhood stunting, a critical concern for long-term health, showed improvement. In 2022, the prevalence of stunting in children under 5 years of age in Central Asia was 7.7%, a decrease of 0.9 percentage points compared to 2020 and a remarkable 20.3 percentage points less than the figure recorded in 2000 (28.0%). Uzbekistan demonstrated substantial progress, with a decrease from 28.9% in 2000 to 6.9% in 2022.
The report also highlighted positive strides in addressing anemia among women aged 15 to 49 in Central Asia. The overall prevalence decreased by 12.3 percentage points from 40.4% in 2000 to 28.1% in 2019. Uzbekistan showcased commendable progress, with a 21.7 percentage point reduction in the prevalence of anemia from 46.5% to 24.8% between 2000 and 2019.
Moderate food insecurity, defined as a situation where individuals are forced to reduce the quality and/or quantity of food due to a lack of resources, showed positive trends, while acute food insecurity, associated with imminent food shortage and hunger, demonstrated improvement, albeit with room for further progress.
Acute food insecurity refers to a situation where individuals are at risk of depleting their food supply, facing hunger, and, in extreme circumstances, enduring extended periods without eating, thereby jeopardizing their health and overall well-being.
In the 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI), Uzbekistan secures the 21st position among 121 countries with sufficient data for GHI scores. Demonstrating a praiseworthy score of 5.6, the nation records a minimal level of hunger. Uzbekistan holds the top rank among its regional counterparts, with Kazakhstan positioned at 24, four places ahead of the Russian Federation. Kyrgyzstan occupies the 40th spot, Turkmenistan follows at 49, Tajikistan at 67, and Afghanistan holds the lowest score at 109.
The GHI index indicates that all countries in the region have made progress in development, steadily improving their scores since 2000, except for Kazakhstan, which experienced a marginal 0.1-point decline. Tajikistan witnessed the most significant improvement, with a notable advancement of 6.7 points, progressing from 20.6 in 2014 to 13.9 in 2022.
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