Nepal improves hunger score, but malnutrition remains a challenge
Summary
Nepal’s Global Hunger Index score has fallen to 14.5 in 2026 from 37 in 2000, showing major progress in reducing hunger and child malnutrition. But undernourishment, stunting and wasting remain serious challenges, with more than one in four children under five still affected by stunted growth.
Key Points
- Nepal's Global Hunger Index score declined to 14.5 in 2026 from 37 in 2000, placing the country 72nd out of 122 countries and in the moderate hunger category.
- Child stunting has dropped sharply from 55.9 percent in 2000 to 26.2 percent in 2026, but it remains a major concern.
- About 5.2 percent of Nepal's population is undernourished, while 6.6 percent of children under five suffer from wasting.
- The report says lasting progress requires better diets, essential nutrients, maternal and child healthcare, and prevention of both chronic and acute malnutrition.
