Sierra Leone Ranks 108th in 2025 Global Hunger Index

Sierra Leone has been ranked 108th out of 123 countries in the 2025 Global Hunger Index (GHI), with a score of 28.5, placing it in the “serious” hunger category, according to the latest report.

Despite this classification, the report highlights gradual progress over the years, with the country improving from a score of 57.8 in 2000 classified as “extremely alarming” to 41.1 in 2008 and 32.4 in 2016.

The GHI, which measures hunger severity on a 100-point scale where 0 indicates no hunger and 100 represents the worst level, is based on four key indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality.

According to the 2025 data, 24.1 percent of Sierra Leone’s population is undernourished, while 25.2 percent of children under five are stunted. The report further indicates a child wasting rate of 6.3 percent and a child mortality rate of 9.4 percent.

The Global Hunger Index is jointly published by Welthungerhilfe, Concern Worldwide, and the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), using data collected between 2020 and 2024. Child mortality figures are drawn from 2023, while stunting data reflects 2024 estimates.

Additional analysis by ReliefWeb notes that Sierra Leone is among a group of countries, including Bangladesh and Nepal, that have recorded notable improvements through agricultural reforms and social protection programmes.

However, the analysis cautions that these gains remain fragile, underscoring the need for stronger policy implementation, improved early warning systems, climate resilience strategies, and sustained investment in food systems.

The report defines child stunting as low height for age, indicating chronic undernutrition, while child wasting refers to low weight for height, a sign of acute undernutrition. Child mortality is also closely linked to poor nutrition and inadequate living conditions.

Despite recorded progress, Sierra Leone remains within the “serious hunger” category, highlighting ongoing challenges in achieving food security and improved nutrition outcomes.