India Cuts Hunger but Healthy Diet Costs Rise – UN Report
India has recorded a substantial decline in undernourishment over the past two decades, but more than 520 million people still cannot afford a healthy diet, according to a new United Nations report.
India Undernourishment Rate Falls
The proportion of undernourished Indians declined from 21.1% during 2004–06 to 9.8% during 2023–25. In absolute terms, the number fell by around 101 million, from 243.9 million to 142.5 million.
India’s progress contributed significantly to the broader decline in hunger across Asia. Expanded welfare programmes, subsidised food distribution and improvements in agricultural productivity were identified as important factors supporting better access to food.
However, the country continues to have a large undernourished population because of its size, while nutritional outcomes vary considerably across regions and income groups.
Healthy Diet Remains Unaffordable
An estimated 520.1 million Indians, representing 35.5% of the population, were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2025. Although this figure declined by 29% over six years, affordability remains a major challenge.
The estimated cost of a healthy diet in India increased by more than one-third during the same period, reaching $4.11 per person per day in purchasing-power-parity terms.
A healthy diet includes sufficient fruits, vegetables, pulses, proteins and other nutrient-rich foods rather than merely providing the calories required to avoid hunger.
India Faces Nutrition Challenges
The findings highlight the difference between reducing hunger and ensuring access to balanced nutrition. Child wasting and stunting, anaemia among women and rising adult obesity continue to demonstrate India’s double burden of malnutrition.
Globally, around 645 million people experienced hunger in 2025, while 2.69 billion could not afford a healthy diet. Climate shocks, conflict, energy disruptions and food-price inflation could threaten further progress.
