Pakistan ranks 106th of 122 on Global Hunger Index 2026, with a score of 25.5
The 2026 Global Hunger Index puts Pakistan at 106th of 122 countries with a "serious" score of 25.5. Geo News and The Times of India both report it, but differ on whether Pakistan or Afghanistan ranks worst in South Asia.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Pakistan ranks 106th out of 122 countries with enough data for the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2026, with a score of 25.5, which the report classes as a serious level of hunger. Geo NewsN “The country ranks 106th out of 122 countries globally with sufficient data to calculate GHI 2026 scores, as per the report.”“With a 2026 Global Hunger Index score of 25.5, Pakistan has a serious level of hunger,” Read at Geo News ↗ Centre · 1Geo News reports that only Afghanistan, at 28.6, has a higher score in South Asia, making Pakistan second-worst in the region. The regional score is 23.5 and the global score is 18.1. Geo NewsN “Only Afghanistan has a higher score than Pakistan in the South Asia region, with a score of 28.6 on the index.”“Across South Asia, the regional GHI score is 23.5, while the global score is 18.1.” Read at Geo News ↗ Centre · 2The Times of India, citing Dawn and the news agency ANI, says Pakistan recorded the poorest performance in South Asia, and its headline says Pakistan ranks lowest in the region. The two outlets therefore differ on Pakistan's position relative to Afghanistan. The Times of IndiaN “Pakistan has recorded the poorest performance in South Asia in the 2026 global hunger index (GHI)” Read at The Times of India ↗ Geo NewsN “Pakistan has ranked second-worst in South Asia on the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2026, behind only Afghanistan” Read at Geo News ↗
Centre · 1The score rests on four indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality. Geo News gives Pakistan's values as 16.1% of the population undernourished, 33.6% of children under five stunted, 9.8% wasted, and 5.6% dying before age five. Geo NewsN “According to the report, 16.1% of Pakistan's population is malnourished, while 33.6% of its children under five are stunted.”“It showed that 9.8% of the children are wasted, while 5.6% of the children in the country die before the age of five.” Read at Geo News ↗ Centre · 2Over the long term the score has improved, falling from 36.2 in 2000 to 25.5 in 2026. The Times of India says much of South Asia's progress came before 2018, and that Pakistan and Afghanistan have both seen conditions deteriorate since then. Geo NewsN “Pakistan's score has, however, fallen from 36.2 in 2000 to 25.5 in 2026, showing substantial long-term improvement, according to the report.” Read at Geo News ↗ The Times of IndiaN “Pakistan and Afghanistan have experienced a deterioration in conditions since 2018.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Centre · 1The Times of India reports that Pakistan's undernourishment indicator moved from a low level in 2018 to a medium level, and that child wasting is close to the threshold for the high category. It adds that child stunting has kept declining and child mortality has fallen from very high levels in 2000 to medium levels. The Times of IndiaN “Pakistan’s undernourishment indicator had deteriorated from a low level in 2018 to a medium level.”“Child mortality rates have improved in both countries, falling from very high levels in 2000 to medium levels in the latest assessment.” Read at The Times of India ↗
Centre · 1The report, titled "No Security Without Food Security", was prepared by Welthungerhilfe, the institute for international law of peace and armed conflict at Ruhr University Bochum, and Helvetas, according to the Times of India. It attributes the hunger situation to economic instability, rising food prices, climate-related disasters and international conflicts, and notes that flooding damaged crops in parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Times of IndiaN “Titled “No Security Without Food Security”, the report was jointly prepared by German aid organisation Welthungerhilfe”“Heavy rainfall and flooding damaged crops in parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Centre · 2The Times of India also cites FAO estimates that about 218 million people in South Asia, including Iran, were undernourished in 2023–2025, roughly one-third of the global total. Geo News links the report to the IMF's World Economic Outlook, which projects Pakistan's inflation rising to 9.9% in fiscal 2026-27 from 7.1% in 2025-26. The Times of IndiaN “approximately 218 million people across South Asia, including Iran, experienced undernourishment between 2023 and 2025.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Geo NewsN “the lender projected inflation to increase to 9.9% in the current fiscal year from 7.1% in 2025-26.” Read at Geo News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the index result as evidence of food insecurity in Pakistan. Geo News leads with the rank and score and ties it to IMF inflation projections. The Times of India leads with economic instability, food prices and climate shocks.
- Emphasis
- Geo News stresses the score, the indicator breakdown and the long-term improvement. The Times of India stresses the stalled regional progress since 2018, extreme weather and the scale of undernourishment in the region.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Geo News does not mention the report's causes or the stall since 2018. The Times of India does not give Pakistan's rank, its score or the indicator percentages, and its 'lowest' claim sits uneasily with Geo's account that Afghanistan scores higher.
- Charged language
- “alarming crisis”“worsening food insecurity”
- For example
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“highlighting the country's worsening food insecurity and malnutrition challenges.” — Geo News
“reveal an alarming crisis, showcasing the worst performance in South Asia” — The Times of India
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Pakistan ranks 106th of 122 countries on the 2026 Global Hunger Index.
- The South Asia regional score is 23.5, in the serious category.
- Pakistan's hunger level has improved since 2000.
- Afghanistan also faces serious child malnutrition.
Where accounts differ
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Pakistan's position within South Asia
- Centre
- Geo News says Pakistan is second-worst, behind Afghanistan (28.6). The Times of India says Pakistan had the poorest performance and ranks lowest in the region.
Global Hunger Index topic
The Global Hunger Index report, as relayed by both outlets, rates Pakistan's hunger as serious with a score of 25.5, and ranks it 106th of 122. It describes long-term progress but a deterioration in some indicators since 2018.
“With a 2026 Global Hunger Index score of 25.5, Pakistan has a serious level of hunger,” — Geo News
“Pakistan and Afghanistan have experienced a deterioration in conditions since 2018.” — The Times of India
Pakistan place
No Pakistani government response is reported. Coverage presents the country as improving over the long term since 2000 while facing food inflation, flooding and economic strain.
“showing substantial long-term improvement, according to the report.” — Geo News
“persistent food inflation have eroded household purchasing power” — The Times of India
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Pakistan ranks second-worst in South Asia on hunger index: report
Neutral Reports the rank, score and component indicators in detail, and links the result to IMF inflation projections.
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Pakistan ranks lowest in South Asia on hunger index amid rising food prices
Critical Emphasises Pakistan's weak performance and its causes, such as inflation and climate shocks, and calls it the lowest in South Asia.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 15 Oct 11:42 First Geo NewsN Pakistan ranks second-worst in South Asia on hunger index: report
- 15 Oct 14:13 +2h 31m The Times of IndiaN Pakistan ranks lowest in South Asia on hunger index amid rising food prices
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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