By Charithya Kumarasiri
Colombo, Oct. 27 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka has been ranked 53rd out of 122 countries in the 2026 Global Hunger Index (GHI), scoring 10.2 and falling into the moderate hunger category, despite significant improvements in its long-term hunger indicators.
The country’s score has declined from 22.1 in 2000 to 19.9 in 2006 and 20.8 in 2012, before improving to 11.4 in 2018 and 10.2 in 2026. The latest score places Sri Lanka close to the threshold for the low hunger category.
According to the report, 4.9% of Sri Lanka’s population is undernourished, while 10.1% of children under five are stunted and 9.3% suffer from wasting. The under-five mortality rate stands at 0.6%.
Sri Lanka has recorded the lowest Global Hunger Index score in the region in every reference year covered by the index. The report also highlights the country’s low levels of undernourishment and child mortality.
However, it warns that improvements in long-term hunger indicators do not necessarily protect a country from sudden food security crises.
Sri Lanka was the only country newly added to the Global Report on Food Crises’ country coverage in 2025, following the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, according to the report. This highlights how extreme weather events can trigger acute food insecurity even in countries where long-term hunger indicators have improved.
The Global Hunger Index measures hunger using four key indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and under-five mortality. Lower scores indicate less severe hunger.
Globally, the 2026 GHI score stands at 18.1, placing hunger in the moderate category. The report notes that the global score is higher than in 2018, interrupting the downward trend recorded since 2000.
Based on data covering the period from 2021 to 2025, the findings point to the combined impact of conflict, extreme weather events and economic shocks on global hunger.
The report also warns that geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions and an intensifying El Niño could put further pressure on food and nutrition security, particularly in countries already facing prolonged crises.