The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool that measures and tracks hunger in 116 countries. It is a peer-reviewed annual report jointly published by two influential European NGOs, Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.
Here are the 3 main findings of the 2021 GHI:
- 47 countries have what the index considers as extremely alarming, alarming, or severe levels of hunger.
- 10 countries with moderate, severe, or alarming hunger levels have higher 2021 GHI scores than in 2012.
- 47 countries will fail to reach United Nations’ Sustainable Goal No. 2, i.e. zero hunger by 2030.
Mauritius ranks 54th out of 116 countries with sufficient data to calculate 2021 GHI scores. With a score of 12.2, Mauritius has a level of hunger that is moderate.
In the 2020 Global Hunger Index, Mauritius ranked 47th out of 107 countries. With a score of 9.3, Mauritius had a level of hunger that was considered low.
Mauritius is one of the countries that have been performing relatively well since 2012. Mauritius’ GHI score in 2012 was 12.3.
However, it is worth noting that the GHI reveals that the proportion of undernourished in the population has increased since 2012. From 5.6 in 2012, the proportion is now at 6.2.
The 2021 GHI report points to a grim hunger situation fuelled by a toxic cocktail of the climate crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and increasingly severe and protracted violent conflicts. Progress toward Zero Hunger by 2030, already far too slow, is showing signs of stagnating or even being reversed.
