The Global Hunger Index (GHI) has released its 2025 report, targeting 136 countries. Only 123 countries had enough complete data to be assigned an official hunger score and included in the final ranking. This is because, while the GHI attempts to assess hunger in as many countries as possible, not all countries have sufficient, recent, and reliable data to allow a full calculation of their GHI score.
To be ranked, a country must have usable data for all four core indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality. Some countries lack one or more of these data points due to weak data collection systems, infrequent national surveys, conflict, political instability, or limited access for researchers.
As a result, these countries are excluded from the final ranking, not because hunger is absent, but because the available data are incomplete or outdated.
What is GHI?
The GHI is an annual analytical tool that measures and tracks hunger at global, regional, and country levels. It is designed to illustrate the severity of hunger, track progress over time, and highlight countries and regions where hunger remains a persistent challenge.
Welthungerhilfe, a German development organization, and Concern Worldwide, an international humanitarian organization, jointly publish the index. The GHI combines several internationally recognized indicators to reflect the multidimensional nature of hunger.
Where Has Liberia Ranked in Recent Years?
Like other countries, Liberia continues to be captured in the GHI. In 2023, the country ranked 117th out of 125 countries, with a GHI score of 32.2. In 2024, Liberia’s position shifted slightly to 120th out of 127 countries, with a score of 31.9. In the latest 2025 report, Liberia is ranked 112th out of 123 countries, with a score of 30.0, remaining in the “serious hunger” category.
However, many people continue to question whether Liberia’s latest GHI results represent real progress or continuing challenges for the country. Part of the confusion comes from misunderstandings about how the index works, especially the difference between a country’s score and its ranking. For example, a recent article published by Independent Probe claimed that Liberia’s hunger situation had worsened in the latest GHI.
Understanding a GHI Score
In the GHI report, a score is a numerical value that represents the severity of hunger in a country. It summarizes multiple aspects of hunger and malnutrition into a single figure, allowing for comparison over time and across countries.
The score is calculated using four key indicators: the share of the population that is undernourished, the prevalence of child stunting, the prevalence of child wasting, and the under-five mortality rate. Each of these indicators is weighted and combined to produce a score that ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating worse hunger conditions.
Scores of 9.9 or below indicate low hunger, while scores from 10.0 to 19.9 are considered moderate hunger. Scores from 20.0 to 34.9, like Liberia’s, fall under serious hunger, reflecting high levels of undernourishment and child malnutrition. Scores between 35.0 and 49.9 are alarming, and 50.0 or above are extremely alarming, usually associated with conflict or prolonged crises. In the 2025 Global Hunger Index, Liberia recorded a score of 30.0.
What Is a GHI Ranking
Unlike the GHI score, the ranking shows a country’s position relative to other countries included in the GHI report for a given year. After each country’s GHI score is calculated, countries are ordered from the lowest score (least severe hunger) to the highest score (most severe hunger). The ranking is therefore comparative, not absolute.
This means a country’s rank can change from year to year, even if its hunger situation improves or remains the same, depending on how other countries perform and how many countries have sufficient data to be included. Liberia’s ranking in the 2025 report is 112th out of 123 countries, indicating its position relative to other nations assessed.
Is Liberia Making Progress Compared to Past Years?
When Liberia’s current score is compared with previous years, the data suggest modest progress. In the 2023 report, Liberia had a GHI score of 32.2, which declined slightly to 31.9 in 2024 and further dropped to 30.0 in 2025.
This downward trend indicates a gradual reduction in hunger severity over the three years. However, despite this improvement, Liberia remains within the serious hunger category, showing that while conditions may be improving slowly, hunger and malnutrition continue to pose significant challenges.
Conclusion
So, while it is correct that Liberia remains in the serious hunger category in the latest Global Hunger Index report, the data show steady improvement over the past three years. Liberia’s declining GHI score, from 32.2 in 2023 to 30.0 in 2025, indicates a gradual reduction in hunger severity, even as the country’s ranking continues to reflect its position relative to other nations assessed.
In practical terms, this means that Liberia’s hunger situation, as measured by internationally recognized indicators, is improving slowly but remains serious.
