Hungerindex

Hungerindex is a composite indicator used in nutrition and development research to quantify the prevalence and severity of hunger within a population, region, or country. It is designed to summarize multiple aspects of undernutrition and food deprivation into a single, comparable score.

Construction and components commonly include indicators such as the prevalence of undernourishment (the share of the population with insufficient caloric intake), child stunting (low height-for-age) and wasting (low weight-for-height) in children under five, and sometimes childhood mortality associated with malnutrition. Some formulations also consider measures of dietary energy accessibility or food insecurity experiences. The indicators are first normalized to a common scale and then combined, often through a weighted average or geometric mean, to produce a Hungerindex value on a 0–100 scale where higher scores reflect greater hunger. The exact method and weights vary by study or organization.

Data sources typically encompass national surveys and international databases from FAO, UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, and other statistical agencies. Inputs may include household survey results, demographic health surveys, and food security assessments. The index is used for cross-national comparisons, tracking changes over time, and informing policy decisions, program design, and resource allocation aimed at reducing hunger.

Limitations include differences in data quality and frequency, sensitivity to chosen weights and methodology, and the potential to obscure subnational disparities. Critics also note that the index may not fully capture local food security dynamics or non-nutritional determinants of hunger. See also Global Hunger Index, food security, and nutrition indicators.