South Africa

In the 2026 Global Hunger Index, South Africa scores 15.4, placing it in the moderate category. At regional level, the GHI score is 27.5 for Africa South of the Sahara, versus 18.1 for the world. Its score has risen by 2.3 points since 2018.

≤ 9.9
low 10.0–19.9
moderate 20.0–34.9
serious 35.0–49.9
alarming ≥ 50.0
extremely alarming

South Africa's GHI Score is based on the values of four component indicators:

Note: The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on the map(s) herein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Welthungerhilfe (WHH), the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) or Helvetas concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries.

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels, reflecting multiple dimensions of hunger over time. Each country’s GHI score is calculated based on a formula that combines four indicators that together capture the multidimensional nature of hunger:

Based on the values of the four indicators, the GHI score on a 100-point scale reflects the current hunger situation, where 0 is the best score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst score. Each country's GHI score is classified according to severity from low to extremely alarming. Read more