You can only truly know hunger if you’ve seen it first hand in these 11 countries with the highest hunger rates. World hunger is still a problem that’s being addressed by many individuals and organisations today. Hunger in a country may be due to numerous factors. It’s likely that food is actually available in the country but most of the citizens don’t have access to it. Some of them also don’t have the means to acquire food which is why they suffer from constant hunger.
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It’s hard to imagine that an afternoon snack we have could be equivalent to what a kid eats in a day somewhere in the world. You can imagine then just how little these people are eating. Poverty has had a hand in affecting these hunger rates and you’ll likely find people hungry in the 7 Poorest Countries in the World by GDP. There are a lot of countries that have been turning it around and have been making an effort to improve their economy. However, that may not be enough if these needs are not addressed with perseverance. Some of the deaths in these countries have been attributed to hunger.
This list is ranked based on the Global Hunger Index or GHI. It is a number from 0-100 with 0 being the best score (no hunger problems) and 100 being the worst. On a global scale we have an average of 12.5 GHI so it’s good but can still improve especially in these 11 countries with the highest hunger rates:
11. Sierra Leone
Global Hunger Index – 22.5
Sierra Leone is home to an abundance of natural resources. The problem is that the country has had a hard time developing because of a civil war that has caused damage and devastation. Due to this the country remains very poor and a lot of the population suffers from hunger.
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10. Haiti
Global Hunger Index – 23
Many consider Haiti as one of the poorest countries in the world. More than 2 million people suffer from extreme poverty, and the country has a difficult time supplying the needs of the people in terms of food. The country has resorted to importing half of its food supply, but even, that is not enough.
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9. Zambia
Global Hunger Index – 23.2
More than half of the population in Zambia is experiencing poverty and hundreds of thousands of citizens feel insecure in terms of getting the right amount of food in a day. Aside from hunger, HIV is also a very prevalent issue in Zambia having a very high rate of carriers.
8. Yemen
Global Hunger Index – 23.4
Child malnutrition rates are very high in Yemen. They also suffer from the lack of food and high prices. Aside from this poverty, civil conflicts still occur often which does not help their current situation.
7. Ethiopia
Global Hunger Index – 24.4
Despite slight improvements in the country in terms of hunger and nutrition they still have a long way to go. There are many reports of children suffering from malnutrition in Ethiopia. The effect has been noticeable as many children have stunted growth due to the lack of nutrition.
6. Chad
Global Hunger Index – 24.9
Since Chad gained its independence in the 60s, the country has been riddled with a lot of problems and conflicts. As a result the country suffers from poor infrastructure, facilities, and governance. Chad receives a large influx of refugees from other countries as well, which contributes to more people becoming hungry in the country.
The hunger problems continue as we go to the remainder of this list of 11 countries with the highest hunger rates.
5. Sudan
Global Hunger Index – 26
Conflicts in Sudan have decreased the population rapidly due to deaths and people fleeing the country. The country now suffers high food insecurity and many are hungry. Nutrition, clean water, and proper food supply are some of the things they need.
4. Comoros
Global Hunger Index – 29.5
Many people can testify to the fact that the hunger situation in Comoros is one of the worst in the world. The Global Hunger Index considers Comoros’ situation as alarming. The hunger rate is resulting in a high infant mortality rate.
3. Timor-Leste
Global Hunger Index – 29.8
Another country that is rich in natural resources suffers from poor management and infrastructure. As a result, half of the population is below the global poverty line. Most of the poor depend on rain-fed agriculture for income that barely provides.
2. Eritrea
Global Hunger Index – 33.8
Eritrea suffered from food shortage in 2011 and has had a hard time recovering since. 2/3rds of the country is known to suffer from hunger and Eritrea makes headlines as one of the worst cases of hunger in the world.
1. Burundi
Global Hunger Index – 35.6
Less than 30% of Burundi is secure when it comes to food. Climate change, a long civil war, political instability and poverty has all contributed to the country that now has the worst hunger situation in the world.
This has been the list of 11 countries with the highest hunger rates. Luckily a lot of people are dedicating their resources to helping these hungry countries.
