BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is a common comorbidity in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), significantly impacting survival rates. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score are tools used to assess the nutritional status, yet their prognostic value in HNC remains to be fully established. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, to evaluate the prognostic significance of GNRI and CONUT on survival outcomes in patients with HNC. Relevant studies up to March 2024 were identified through comprehensive searches of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases. The quality of each included study was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were included, encompassing a total of 3,816 patients with HNC. Our findings reveal that a lower GNRI is consistently associated with poor overall survival (OS, adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 3.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.47-6.14) and progression-free survival (PFS, aHR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.41-2.21), demonstrating its utility as a prognostic indicator. However, CONUT scores revealed no significant differences in OS (aHR: 1.65, 95% CI: 0.94-2.91) or PFS (aHR: 1.43, 95% CI: 0.68-3.02). CONCLUSION: GNRI appears to be a reliable prognostic tool for predicting poorer survival outcomes in HNC patients, underscoring the importance of nutritional assessments in this population. Further research is needed to clarify the prognostic value of the CONUT score, which exhibited less consistent results.