Hunger and malnutrition in China
Under 2.5% of people in China go without enough food. 4.8% of young children are too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition, and 1.9% are dangerously thin.
Global Hunger Index score over time
Out of 100, lower is better. The index rescores past years with the latest data, so these are comparable with each other.
- 200013.8
- 20069.1
- 2012under 5
- 2018under 5
- 2026under 5
How China compares
China has the 111th highest child stunting of 129 countries with an estimate since 2015. In East Asia & Pacific it is 23rd of 27.
Frequently asked questions
What is China's rank in the Global Hunger Index?
China ranks 1-24 in the 2026 Global Hunger Index with a score of <5, which the index calls low. It scored 13.8 in 2000. The score combines undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and deaths of children under five.
How many people are hungry in China?
Under 2.5% of people in China are undernourished (2024), FAO's lowest band, so hunger in the sense of too few calories is rare.
What percentage of children are stunted in China?
4.8% of children under five in China were stunted in 2017, which WHO rates low. 1.9% were wasted (2017). That ranks China 111 of 129 countries with an estimate since 2015, highest first.
Sources: FAO (undernourishment, food insecurity), UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Malnutrition Estimates (stunting, wasting, underweight, overweight), WHO (anaemia) and UN IGME (child deaths), as published by the World Bank; Global Hunger Index 2026.