According to the United Nations’ State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report released on July 24, 2024, 55.6% of India’s population cannot afford a healthy diet. While this figure shows a decline from previous years, except during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, it remains higher than the South Asian average of 53.1%. Only Pakistan, with 58.7%, surpassed India in the region in 2022; Afghanistan’s data was not included in the report.
In 2017, 69.5% of India’s population faced challenges affording a healthy diet, illustrating some improvement over the years.
The report defines a ‘healthy diet’ based on four criteria: diversity within and across food groups, adequacy of essential nutrients compared to requirements, moderation in consumption of foods linked to poor health outcomes, and balance in energy and macronutrient intake.
The proportion of public spending on food security and nutrition in India reflects these challenges, with 83% allocated to food consumption (covering availability and access) and only 15% addressing major drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition.
Earlier in 2024, a global report highlighted concerning dietary trends in India, noting an increase in unhealthy food consumption compared to nutritious options. The Global Food Policy Report 2024 emphasized that 38% of Indians consume unhealthy foods, while only 28% manage to include all five recommended food groups: a starchy staple, vegetables, fruits, pulses/nuts/seeds, and animal-source foods.
Globally, 35.4% of people cannot afford a healthy diet, with the majority (64.8%) in Africa and 35.1% in Asia facing similar challenges.
India also grapples with significant undernourishment, affecting 194.6 million people (13.7% of the population) between 2021 and 2023. Among children under five, 21.9 million (18.7%) suffer from wasting (low weight-for-height), a severe form of malnutrition, while 36.1 million (31.7%) are stunted (low height-for-age) due to chronic or recurrent undernutrition.
Asia records the highest levels of wasting among children under five globally, underscoring the urgent need for targeted nutritional interventions in the region.