Hunger and malnutrition in Saudi Arabia
Under 2.5% of people in Saudi Arabia go without enough food. 11% of young children are too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition, and 3.9% 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.
- 200010.5
- 200612.5
- 20128.1
- 20186.3
- 20266.1
How Saudi Arabia compares
Saudi Arabia has the 79th highest child stunting of 129 countries with an estimate since 2015. In Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it is 11th of 20.
Frequently asked questions
What is Saudi Arabia's rank in the Global Hunger Index?
Saudi Arabia ranks 33 in the 2026 Global Hunger Index with a score of 6.1, which the index calls low. It scored 10.5 in 2000. The score combines undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and deaths of children under five.
How many people are hungry in Saudi Arabia?
Under 2.5% of people in Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia?
11% of children under five in Saudi Arabia were stunted in 2020, which WHO rates medium. 3.9% were wasted (2020). That ranks Saudi Arabia 79 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.