Bangladesh ranks 84th among 122 countries in Global Hunger Index

The pace of progress of Bangladesh in ending hunger has slowed. Since 2018 the improvement in the score of Bangladesh in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) has been only 4 percent. Whereas between 2000 and 2018 the improvement had been more than 42 percent.

In the Global Hunger Index of 2026 the position of Bangladesh among 122 countries is 84th. This year the score of Bangladesh is 19.2, which was 20 in 2018. According to the score, Bangladesh is still in the category of ‘moderate level’ of hunger.

It has been said in the report that the rate of severe malnutrition of children has increased from 8.4 percent in 2018 to 12.9 percent in the latest assessment. This is the highest rate after 2000. Low weight compared to height is one of the main symptoms of severe malnutrition of children. The risk of illness and death of children increases in this type of malnutrition.

However, there is progress of Bangladesh in several indicators. The rate of stunting of children has decreased from 29.8 percent in 2018 to 24 percent in the latest assessment. In the same period the proportion of the population suffering from undernutrition has decreased from 12.1 percent to 8.2 percent. The mortality rate of children under five years of age has also come down from 3.3 percent to 3 percent.

The long-term progress of Bangladesh in ending hunger has been described in the report as ‘an achievement of one generation’. In 2000 the rate of stunting of children was 54.9 percent, which has decreased to 24 percent in the latest assessment.

According to the research of GHI, the improvement in the education of guardians, especially the progress in the education of mothers and the improvement in the standard of living of the family have played an important role behind the decrease in the rate of stunting of children. Alongside, the improvement in the health, sanitation and demographic situation has also contributed to this.

Among the countries of South Asia the score of India is 24.1, Pakistan 25.5 and Afghanistan 28.6. The countries are in the category of serious hunger. On the other hand, the score of Nepal is 14.5 and Sri Lanka 10.2. The two countries are in the category of moderate level of hunger.

The overall score of South Asia is 23.5, which has kept the region in the category of serious hunger. On the other hand, the global score is 18.1, which falls in the category of moderate level of hunger.

Four matters are considered in the Global Hunger Index—undernutrition, severe malnutrition of children, stunting and the mortality rate of children under five years of age. The lower the score in the index, the lower the intensity of hunger.