Hunger and malnutrition in Kuwait
Under 2.5% of people in Kuwait go without enough food. 3.2% of young children are too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition, and 3.5% 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.
- 2000under 5
- 2006under 5
- 2012under 5
- 2018under 5
- 2026under 5
How Kuwait compares
Kuwait has the 118th highest child stunting of 129 countries with an estimate since 2015. In Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it is 20th of 20.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kuwait's rank in the Global Hunger Index?
Kuwait ranks 1-24 in the 2026 Global Hunger Index with a score of <5, which the index calls low. It scored <5 in 2000. The score combines undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and deaths of children under five.
How many people are hungry in Kuwait?
Under 2.5% of people in Kuwait 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 Kuwait?
3.2% of children under five in Kuwait were stunted in 2023, which WHO rates low. 3.5% were wasted (2023). That ranks Kuwait 118 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.