---
title: "Household Hunger Scale (HHS)"
slug: "household-hunger-scale-hhs"
updated: 2026-04-30T08:33:56Z
published: 2026-04-30T08:33:56Z
canonical: "vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/household-hunger-scale-hhs"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Household Hunger Scale (HHS)

The Household Hunger Scale (HHS) is a food deprivation indicator developed by USAID’s Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project (FANTA). It measures the severity of hunger in a household based on experiences of food deprivation over the past 30 days by asking whether the household had no food to eat, or if any member went to bed hungry, or went a whole day and night without eating due to a lack of resources.

HHS is required in areas/for populations with high levels of food insecurity, as it allows differentiation between IPC Phase 4 and 5, while being less suitable for differentiation between less severe levels of food insecurity. It can never stand alone but needs to be collected in combination with other food security indicators.

**Available Resources**

Please find below the resources that will help in collecting, analysing and interpreting the HHS indicator in the field settings:

**Technical Guidance Note**

Read the detailed guidance document from FANTA, which is available in [English](https://www.fantaproject.org/sites/default/files/resources/HHS-Indicator-Guide-Aug2011.pdf), [French](https://www.fantaproject.org/sites/default/files/resources/HHS-Indicator-Guide-Aug2011-FRANCAIS.pdf), and [Spanish](https://www.fantaproject.org/sites/default/files/resources/HHS_Indicator_Guide_Aug2011-ESPANOL.pdf).

**Questionnaire Module**

Download the standard [questionnaire modules](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000108567/download/) in Word format.

**XLS Forms**

Access the [XLS form](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000109062/download/) designed in [WFP Survey Designer](https://surveydesigner.vam.wfp.org/). The form includes the standard naming codes and can be converted to ODK for consistent data collection across mobile and web platforms.

**Training Presentation**

A training presentation for VAM staff on HHS for enumerator training and VAM staff is available in the following languages:

- [English](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000158058/download)
- [French](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000166071/download/)
- [Arabic](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000167756/download/)

**Scripts**

The standardized scripts for analysts are available on [GitHub](https://github.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/tree/main/Indicators/Household-hunger-scale).

- [SPSS](https://github.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/blob/main/Indicators/Household-hunger-scale/Household-Hunger-Scale.sps)
- [STATA](https://github.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/blob/main/Indicators/Household-hunger-scale/HHS%20updated%20Oct%202025.do)
- [R](https://github.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/blob/main/Indicators/Household-hunger-scale/HHS.R)

**Additional Resources**

- The [Data Quality Guidance](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000161492/download/) provides practical steps to maintain data quality across all phases of evidence generation cycle

For more information, please contact the Assessments and Targeting Unit in HQ VAM at [global.assessmentandtargeting@wfp.org](mailto:global.assessmentandtargeting@wfp.org).