Nepal was ranked 68th out of 123 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) in 2024, but this year it has slipped four places to 72nd. The report also shows that stunting has increased in Nepal.
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Nepal's position in the Global Hunger Index has slipped slightly. The Global Hunger Index 2025 report released by Welt Hunger Hilfe and Li-Bird on Tuesday has classified Nepal as a country with 'moderate hunger'.
Nepal's GHI score this year is 14.8, indicating a moderate hunger situation, the report states. In 2000, Nepal was classified as a country with 'severe hunger' with a GHI score of 37.1. Nepal has seen significant improvement in its hunger situation in the past two decades. However, Nepal's GHI score, which was 14.7 last year, has increased to 14.8 this year.
Welt Hunger Hilfe, Concern Worldwide and the Institute for the International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict have been publishing this report annually to measure the situation of hunger and malnutrition. The report indicates that malnutrition in Nepal is still a major public health challenge. The population of Nepal with malnutrition or low calorie consumption is only 5.3 percent.
Child stunting is 26 percent among children under five years of age. Stunting, which was 24.8 percent last year, has increased this year. The report indicates that child mortality is 2.6 percent and child wasting is 7 percent.
While releasing the report, Federal Affairs and General Administration and Finance Minister Rameshwor Prasad Khanal said that the report has highlighted the situation and challenges of hunger, food security and nutritional security, especially in developing countries. He said that although Nepal has made significant progress in hunger and malnutrition, the problem still exists. He opined that the increasing risk of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases, which are the main problems of the country, are directly related to the changes in Nepal's agricultural structure, production methods, food system and consumption.
Saqueb Navi, Country Director of Welt Hunger Hilfe Nepal, informed that the Global Hunger Report has been issued globally for the past 20 years and its main focus is on food insecurity and malnutrition. Amidst many challenges such as the impact of climate change, the impact of Covid, biodiversity loss and migration, Nepal is doing commendable work to ensure access to food for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. According to the report, Nepal has made good progress in reducing hunger compared to other South Asian countries except Sri Lanka. India, Pakistan and Afghanistan are still in the severe hunger category.
