Bangladesh has outperformed India and Pakistan in the 2026 Global Hunger Index (GHI), reflecting its relatively better position in South Asia in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.
Experts attribute Bangladesh’s progress to several factors, including greater employment opportunities for women, the expansion of community clinics and grassroots healthcare services, improved sanitation and increased access to education for girls.
According to the report, Bangladesh scored 19.2 on the index, placing it in the moderate hunger category. India scored 24.1, while Pakistan recorded 25.5, putting both countries in the serious hunger category.
However, Bangladesh still trails Nepal and Sri Lanka in South Asia. Nepal scored 14.5, while Sri Lanka recorded 10.2 in the 2026 index.
The Global Hunger Index measures hunger using four key indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and under-five mortality. These indicators assess the extent of inadequate food intake, impaired child growth, acute malnutrition and deaths among children under five.
The index uses a scale from zero to 100, with lower scores indicating lower levels of hunger. Scores below 10 indicate a low level of hunger, while scores from 10 to 19.9 fall into the moderate category. Scores from 20 to 34.9 indicate serious hunger, those from 35 to 49.9 are classified as alarming, and scores of 50 or above represent an extremely alarming situation.
Bangladesh’s score of 19.2 therefore places it in the moderate category, while India’s and Pakistan’s scores indicate more serious hunger conditions.
Pakistan faces persistent challenges linked to rising food prices, child malnutrition, limited employment opportunities for women, inadequate investment in healthcare and education, and climate-related disasters, according to the report.
The findings highlight Bangladesh’s relative progress in addressing hunger, while also underscoring the continuing need to improve nutrition, strengthen healthcare and ensure access to affordable food.