Uzbekistan Emerges as Most Nourished Nation in Central Asia

Uzbekistan has established itself as the only country in Central Asia with the lowest level of hunger, ranking 22nd out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI).

The GHI is based on four key indicators: the prevalence of undernourishment, child mortality rates for children under five, the proportion of children experiencing wasting, and the prevalence of stunting. A higher score indicates more serious hunger issues within a country.

Since 2000, Uzbekistan made significant progress in improving its score on the index. Twenty-four years ago, the country scored 24.3 points, categorising it among nations with serious hunger levels. This year, Uzbekistan’s GHI score has dropped to below five points.

Kazakhstan follows closely in second place in Central Asia, ranking 25th, while Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan rank 36th and 50th, respectively. All these countries demonstrate low levels of hunger. Tajikistan ranks 65th and is the only Central Asian country classified with moderate hunger.

Globally, Chad, Yemen, and Somalia rank as the countries facing the most severe hunger challenges.

Conversely, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Chile are recognised as the most well-fed nations.