Download the Global Hunger Index 2016
Global Hunger Index 2016
Great successes in the fight against hunger
Big successes have been achieved globally in the fight against hunger. The new Global Hunger Index shows that the index value has fallen by 29 per cent since 2000 and the fight against hunger has not stagnated in any region. Countries such as Rwanda and Myanmar have been able to reduce their values by at least half since 2000. Despite this, there are still 795 million undernourished people across the world. In 50 countries the hunger situation is rated as serious or alarming. Armed conflicts are often the main cause of this.
"We have achieved important successes in the fight against hunger. However, the efforts in politics, economics and civil society must be substantially increased, if we want to achieve the goal of ‘zero hunger’ by the year 2030. The current situation in sub-Saharan Africa and in south Asia shows that we still have a long way to go to reach this goal. We must strengthen our efforts and push for food and nutrition security to be the top priority in the development plans of affected countries. Demands must also be made on our own governments. In the first instance, agriculture must secure nutrition rather than be used for our energy provision. At the same time, we need a stronger political commitment to ending armed conflicts," stresses Bärbel Dieckmann, president of Welthungerhilfe.
What the GHI measures
- Proportion of undernourished people in the population.
- Proportion of children under the age of five who suffer from wasting.
- Proportion of children under the age of five who suffer from stunting.
- Proportion of children who die before their fifth birthday.
The GHI is based on a 100-point scale whose extremes are never reached.
Scoring up to 10 points = 'low' hunger
Scoring more than 50 points = 'extremely alarming' hunger
Press release for download
The new Global Hunger Index 2016 also shows great differences in the individual countries. The national average values partially conceal the significant inequalities in how individual regions or population groups within a country are affected by hunger.
"In future we need even more data and information from these countries. Even the regional differences in the individual countries show that with targeted measures, which are adapted to local needs and challenges, long-term successes are possible. At the same time, reliable figures present the opportunity to assess the progress of the fight against hunger," says Klaus von Grebmer from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington DC.
Welthungerhilfe is one of the largest private aid organisations in Germany; politically independent and non-denominational. It is fighting for ‘Zero Hunger by 2030’. Since its establishment, more than 8,500 overseas projects in 70 countries have been supported with 3.27 billion euros. Welthungerhilfe works on the basic principle of help for self-help: from rapid disaster relief to reconstruction and long-term development cooperation projects with national and international partner organisations.
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