In this article, we will be taking a look at the 25 most malnourished countries in the world. If you do not want to learn about the global malnutrition crisis, head straight to the 5 Most Malnourished Countries in the World.

Addressing the Global Malnutrition Crisis

The worldwide market for malnutrition is a serious topic that needs immediate attention. Global undernourishment rates were 9.2% in 2022, with stunted growth affecting 148 million children under the age of five. An estimated 30% of women during their reproductive age were anemic in 2019, despite a drop in the prevalence of malnutrition from 40% in 1990 to 22% in 2022.

Global hunger still exists, with about ten percent of people not having access to enough food, even while rates in North America and Europe are less than 2.5%. Hunger is more common in South Asia than in other places, which emphasizes the continuous problems associated with undernourishment. To effectively overcome hunger in this setting, additional funding is required, which calls for creative finance strategies from the public and private sectors. In low-income contexts, the economic cost of undernutrition can range from 3 to 16% (or more) of GDP, which highlights the importance of making deliberate investments in interventions that have been shown to prevent productivity losses.

Sadly, food insecurity affected 17. million families, or 12.8% of the country’s total, in 2022 which posed serious problems to food security in the US. 6.8 million families were among those that experienced “very low food security,” which interfered with their regular eating schedules and caused them to consume insufficient amounts of food. 27.9 million Americans, according to the US Census Bureau, live below the poverty line, indicating that alarming rates of poverty continue to exist. 35 countries struggled with significant levels of hunger, according to the Global Hunger Index 2022. Surprisingly, South Asia’s GHI score increased from 26 to 27.4 in just two years, whereas Sub-Saharan Africa’s score decreased from 27.8 to 27. 

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) contributes significantly to the global effort to end hunger by means of a range of technologies and initiatives. The company is renowned for having started the plant-based protein movement and meeting consumer needs for clean-label products. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) uses digital transformation to increase operational efficiency and meet evolving consumer demands. For the fourth quarter of 2023, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) reported $1.4 billion in adjusted segment operating profit and $1.36 adjusted profits per share. Highlights for the full year 2023 include segment operating profit of $5.9 billion and adjusted segment operating profit of $6.244 billion, as well as a trailing four-quarter average adjusted return on invested capital (ROIC) of 12.2%.

On the other hand, Bunge Global SA (NYSE:BG), with more than two centuries of experience is a renowned agribusiness and food corporation committed to using cutting-edge methods to eradicate malnutrition. Bunge Global SA (NYSE:BG) concentrates on creating novel product technologies and advancing scientific research through its 19 innovation centers across the globe. Sustainable agriculture is the goal of its strategic collaborations, like the one it has with Nutrien Ag Solutions. Purchasing a refinery from Fuji Oil and forming a joint venture with Chevron to construct an oilseed processing facility in Louisiana are examples of recent endeavors. Bunge Global SA (NYSE:BG) performed well financially in Q42023, as seen by rising EPS and adjusted core segment earnings. The company is working to increase supply chain sustainability and projects adjusted EPS of about $9.00 by FY 2024.

Our Methodology 

For our methodology, we have ranked the most malnourished countries in the world based on IM Scoring. We took into account the Global Hunger Index 2023 to find out the hunger rates in these countries and then ranked the most malnourished countries using these hunger rates as malnourishment rates and gave them IM scores. For example the country ranking on the 25th place got an IM score of 0.04 (1/25=0.04) and the country ranking on the first place got an IM score of 1 (25/25=1). These scores represent the most malnourished countries in the world.

Here is our list of the 25 most malnourished countries in the world.

25. Syria 

Hunger Rate: 0.04

Approximately 609,900 children under the age of five in Syria suffer from stunting, and one in four of them are severely malnourished. A youngster under the age of five who is overweight is also among those five. Between 3.7% and 4.6% of people, including Syrian refugees, suffer from severe malnutrition on a regular basis. In addition to the 700,000 additional children who face hunger as a result of the collapsing economy, over 4.6 million children in Syria lack access to food.

24. Ethiopia  

Hunger Rate: 0.08

Ethiopia suffers from high rates of malnutrition, especially in young children and specially women who are able to bear children. Despite advancements in this sector, malnutrition in children still poses a threat, with approximately 14.89% of young children suffering from severe malnourishment. In the country, 22% of women have chronic malnutrition, and 37% of children under five are stunted.

23. Pakistan 

Hunger Rate: 0.12

Pakistan is one of the world’s most malnourished countries and confronts serious issues from the disease. With a global acute malnutrition rate of 17.7%, a sizable section of the population suffers from high rates of undernourishment and hunger. Among youngsters, wasting affects 10.5%, stunting affects 45%, and underweight people make up 31.6%. Furthermore, 5.9% of kids under five in the country, experience both stunting and wasting. 71% of households experience food insecurity, which is made worse by poverty and restricted access to essential services.

22. Sudan 

Hunger Rate: 0.16

Malnutrition is still a problem in Sudan; throughout the last three decades, rates have remained unchanged and have gotten worse in areas affected by violence, such as Darfur and the eastern states, making Sudan stand among the most malnourished countries in the world. Over half a million of the three million children under five who are malnourished are badly affected. Ongoing hostilities have made the situation even worse; estimates indicate that 690,000 children under five are extremely malnourished and that 3.4 million children under five are impacted. The economic costs of malnutrition are estimated to be 2.6% of GDP, with productivity, health, and educational setbacks accounting for the majority of these losses.

21. Guinea 

Hunger Rate: 0.2

Malnutrition affects children under five in Guinea; 6.1% of them suffer from acute malnutrition, while 24.4% of them suffer from stunting. Furthermore, 12% of kids under the age of five are underweight. 21.8% of households, particularly those in rural areas, experience food insecurity. 60% of people who experience chronic hunger are women, and they often have difficulty obtaining formal jobs and resources. Famine and malnutrition are made worse by poverty, which affects 55% of the population, especially smallholder farmers.

20. Papua New Guinea 

Hunger Rate: 0.24

Malnutrition rates in Papua New Guinea are startlingly high, with 14.1% of children under five suffering from wasting and 49.5% from stunting. Furthermore, 13.7% of kids under 5 are overweight, which suggests a complicated dietary picture. Due to a large section of the population’s limited access to nutrient-dense food, hunger and food insecurity are pervasive.

19. Korea DPR 

Hunger Rate: 0.28

About 10.7 million individuals, or more than 40% of the population, are undernourished as a result of chronic malnutrition in Korea (DPR). A disproportionate number of children—18%—experience stunting, which impedes their ability to grow and develop. Children under five also frequently exhibit child wasting, which is an indication of severe malnutrition.

18. Zimbabwe 

Hunger Rate: 0.32

Malnutrition has always been a serious problem in Zimbabwe, impacting women between the ages of 15 and 49 as well as children under five. Approximately 27% of young toddlers have chronic malnutrition, while 35% of women within the reproductive age range are obese or overweight. A recent estimate of 1.1 million people reported experiencing food insecurity, which is a result of both economic hardships and susceptibility to shocks like drought. A quarter of children are stunted (24%), and the prevalence varies between wealthy and impoverished families.

17. Nigeria 

Hunger Rate: 0.36

Substantial malnutrition problems plague Nigeria, impacting both the long-term health and survival of children. Acute malnutrition affects 7% of children under five, while 37% of stunted children are chronically malnourished, out of 11.7 million under five. A 1 in 30 lifetime chance of maternal death puts maternal health at risk. The economy of Nigeria is challenged by its excessive reliance on its gas and oil reserves, while 69% of its people live in poverty.

16. Zambia  

Hunger Rate: 0.4

Zambia faces severe malnutrition problems; 35 percent of children suffer from stunting, and 9 percent are born underweight as a result of problems with maternal nutrition. Unfortunately, there are health hazards associated with overweight or obesity in 23% of women and 6% of children under the age of five. Due to high rates of poverty, about half of the population suffers from calorie insufficiency.

15. India 

Hunger Rate: 0.44

India grapples with significant malnutrition challenges, affecting an estimated 200 million individuals due to widespread food insecurity, poverty, and poor sanitation. Around 19% of women and 16% of men under 50 are undernourished, while 24% of women and 23% of men are obese.   

14. Timor Leste 

Hunger Rate: 0.48

With 47% of children under 5 being stunted and 8.6% experiencing acute malnutrition, Timor-Leste is severely challenged by both food poverty and malnutrition. And among women aged 15 to 49, anemia affects 23% of them. More over 45% of people live in poverty, and the nation mainly depends on food imports. With assistance from groups like KOICA and WFP, initiatives like the national school nutrition program and the Say No To 5S project seek to solve these problems.

13. Mozambique 

Hunger Rate: 0.52

Mozambique also faces hunger and inadequate access to nutritious food, posing a serious threat to public health and well-being, which places Mozambique among the most malnourished countries in the world. Both genders and various age groups are vulnerable to malnutrition, with children under five, particularly at risk of severe acute malnutrition and related health issues.  

12. Afghanistan  

Hunger Rate: 0.56

A large section of the population in Afghanistan suffers from shockingly high rates of hunger and malnourishment, posing a serious threat to the country’s nutritional security. At 41%, the nation has one of the highest rates of stunting among children under five. Out of almost 40 million people, about 7 million moms and children under five are malnourished. Acute malnutrition affects an estimated 4 million women and children, of whom over 2.3 million have moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and over 875,000 have severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

11. Haiti 

Hunger Rate: 0.6  

Regarding malnutrition and food insecurity, Haiti faces considerable obstacles and is among the world’s most malnourished countries. Anemia affects 66% of children under the age of five, and chronic malnutrition affects about 22% of them. A quarter of country’s population lives on less than $1.90 a day, indicating clear economic struggles. Food insecurity affects almost 80% of Haitians, with urban regions like Port-au-Prince being particularly hard hit.

10. Sierra Leone 

Hunger Rate: 0.64

With almost 500,000 children under five suffering from stunting and 30,000 from acute malnutrition, Sierra Leone stands among the most malnourished countries in the world. In spite of modest improvement, 6.3% of children experience wasting and 26.3% of children are still stunted.

9. Liberia 

Hunger Rate: 0.68

Libya faces serious problems with malnutrition, especially with regard to children under five, of whom over 38% experience chronic malnutrition. 38.1% of children suffer from stunting, which is more above the area norm. Furthermore, the percentage of overweight young children is 29.6%, and the advancement of non-communicable diseases linked to diet has been slow. Even in this oil-rich country, some 324,000 people still need food aid. Through food assistance and nutrition programs, UNICEF provides help to vulnerable people, especially those impacted by recent floods.

8. Guinea Bissau 

Hunger Rate: 0.72

Starvation problems in Guinea Bissau impact both adults and children. 5.1% of children under the age of five experience wasting, while 27.7% of them suffer from stunting. There has been progress in exclusive breastfeeding, with 59.3% of newborns 0–5 months old adhering to the protocol. Low birth weight and adult obesity remain a concern in the country, nevertheless, with 6.4% of men and 16.3% of women in their adult lives being obese.

7. Chad 

Hunger Rate: 0.76

At least 1.8 million children under five in Chad were malnourished in 2023 as a result of the country’s chronic malnutrition issue. The estimated number of malnourished individuals among them is 414,000. Furthermore, it is estimated that 270,000 women who are pregnant or nursing may have acute malnourishment. Along with severe food insecurity, the nation is predicted to have 1.7 million undernourished children and 2.9 million severely food insecure people throughout the lean season.

6. Niger 

Hunger Rate: 0.8

High fertility rates, extreme poverty, and low levels of education contribute to the pervasive malnutrition and hunger that plague Niger, making it one of the most malnourished countries in the world. There has been little progress in the long run in addressing the chronic malnutrition that affects 1.8 million children under the age of five. Furthermore, in the following six months, it is anticipated that nearly 3 million individuals, or around 10% of the population, will be hungry. Key malnutrition statistics show that 10.7% of children under five suffer from acute malnutrition, while 42% of them suffer from chronic malnutrition. Niger has a 44.1% poverty rate, and the country’s rural sections continue to experience extreme poverty.

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Disclosure. None: The 25 Most Malnourished Countries In The World is originally published on Insider Monkey.