The 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) has ranked Afghanistan 116th out of 127 countries, with a score of 30.8, marking a decline from its previous position of 114th last year, which had a score of 30.6. This deterioration highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing the country.
According to the report, 30.4% of Afghanistan's population is malnourished, and 5.8% of children die before reaching the age of five due to inadequate nutrition and poor living conditions. The report also notes that 44.6% of children under five suffer from stunted growth, reflecting chronic malnutrition, while 3.6% of children are classified as acutely malnourished, with lower-than-expected weight for their height.
The Global Hunger Index categorizes Afghanistan's hunger situation as “serious,” in line with 35 other countries experiencing similar challenges under Taliban control. The humanitarian crisis has worsened over the past three years, with the United Nations reporting that over 24mn people in Afghanistan currently require humanitarian assistance.
In this year’s rankings, Belarus emerged with the lowest hunger level globally, scoring less than 5, while Burundi and South Sudan are classified as experiencing “alarming” levels of hunger, with scores between 35 and 49.9.
Among Central Asian countries, Uzbekistan scored less than 5, indicating a low hunger level, while Kazakhstan scored 5.3, Kyrgyzstan received a score of 6.8, Turkmenistan scored 9.5, and Tajikistan scored 13.7.
In the broader context of the GHI, hunger levels have been categorized as follows: 51 countries are classified as having “low” hunger levels, 37 as “moderate,” 36 as “serious,” and 6 as experiencing “alarming” levels of hunger. On a global scale, the overall hunger score stands at 18.3, indicating a slight increase from 18.8 eight years ago, which underscores a modest rise in hunger levels worldwide.
The report emphasizes the growing challenge of achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals aimed at eliminating global hunger by 2030. Progress in reducing global hunger has stagnated since 2016.
The Global Hunger Index is prepared by European non-governmental organizations and is published annually in October, providing crucial insights into the hunger situation across the globe.
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