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Pakistan Ranks Among Top 10 Nations Facing Acute Hunger Crisis

Pakistan has been ranked among the world's top 10 fragile nations where acute food insecurity is most concentrated, according to a UN-backed report. About 11 million people in Pakistan faced severe food insecurity in 2025, with 9.3 million in "crisis" and 1.7 million in "emergency" conditions. Extreme weather, including heavy monsoon rains and flash floods, affected over 6 million people and destroyed cropland and infrastructure. The report projects inflation in Pakistan will rise to 6% in 2026, further straining the food system.

Key Points: Pakistan in Top 10 Nations for Acute Hunger: UN Report

  • Pakistan ranked among top 10 fragile nations for acute food insecurity
  • 11 million people face severe food insecurity in 2025
  • Extreme weather and floods destroyed cropland and infrastructure
  • Inflation projected to rise to 6% in 2026, adding pressure
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Pakistan ranked among world's top 10 nations facing acute hunger

UN-backed report ranks Pakistan among top 10 nations facing acute food insecurity, with 11 million people severely affected by floods and inflation.

"In Pakistan, heavy monsoon rains and flash floods affected more than 6 million people, destroying cropland and infrastructure - 2026 Global Report on Food Crises"

Islamabad, April 26

Pakistan has been ranked among world's top 10 fragile nations, where global acute food insecurity is most concentrated, local media reported, citing a United Nations-backed report.

The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises has named Pakistan alongside Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen as the primary centres of acute hunger, Pakistani daily Dawn reported.

According to the report, Pakistan was also named among 10 nations in the world which faced the largest food crises in 2025, with about 11 million people facing severe food insecurity.

Among those impacted in Pakistan, 9.3 million people were classified in "crisis" conditions and 1.7 million in "emergency", the most acute categories short of famine.

In the report, the classification system, known as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), defines a food crisis as a situation which needs urgent action to protect lives and livelihoods. Acute food insecurity occurs when access to food becomes so restricted that it poses a threat to survival.

According to the report, extreme weather was a continuing cause of food insecurity in Pakistan, pointing to heavy rains and floods that resulted in crop damage. "In 2025, severe floods were recorded worldwide, affecting livelihoods and food security. In Pakistan, heavy monsoon rains and flash floods affected more than 6 million people, destroying cropland and infrastructure," it said.

Pakistan is also mentioned in the report's nutrition analysis, with Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa identified as areas of concern. However, Pakistan does not have adequate recent data to assign a formal severity classification for 2025, putting it among countries with "no severity data" for nutrition outcomes.

Pakistan also appears in the analysis of malnutrition risk pathways, showcasing vulnerabilities related to diet, healthcare access, water and sanitation, as well as disease. The report projects that inflation in Pakistan will increase to 6 per cent in 2026, putting additional pressure on the system, Dawn reported.

According to the report, Pakistan's mention in the top 10 nations reflects the severity of need and expansion of data coverage. The analysis was extended from 43 rural districts in 2024 to 68 districts in 2025, covering areas of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, resulting in the share of Pakistan's population included in the analysis increased from 16 per cent to 21 per cent, adding more than 14 million people.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Climate change is no respecter of borders. The floods in Pakistan last year were devastating. But let's be honest, governance and economic mismanagement also play a huge role. Pakistan's inflation to 6% projection? That's just the tip of the iceberg. Without structural reforms, this cycle will repeat.
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James A
Having traveled through Sindh and Balochistan for work, I saw firsthand how fragile the food system is. The report is accurate. We need to look at India's own food security programs too - we have millions facing similar challenges, but our data coverage is better. Time for South Asian cooperation on climate adaptation.
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Vikram M
This is deeply concerning, especially with Balochistan and KP being highlighted. The lack of even basic nutrition data for Pakistan shows how weak their monitoring systems are. India should learn from this - we need stronger district-level food security assessments, not just national averages. Jai Hind 🙏
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Sarah B
11 million in severe food insecurity - that's the population of Maharashtra's cities. When we think of Pakistan, we often forget it's not the government, but real families suffering. Inflation at 6% might not sound huge, but when food prices are already out of reach, it's catastrophic. Hope international agencies step up.
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Aditya G
It's easy to point fingers at Pakistan, but India isn't far behind in the Global Hunger Index. Our own malnutrition rates in states like Bihar and UP are alarming. Instead of feeling superior, we should use this as a wake-up call to strengthen our own food distribution, water management, and climate resilience. Namaste

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