Which has higher prevalence of underweight, weight for age, India or World?

India, at 31.5% against 12.2% in World as of 2020.

How many years of comparable data are there for India and World?

5 years are reported by both, from 2006 to 2020.

Where does this data come from?

UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children', published as Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

India vs World: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age

India

31.5%

in 2020

World

12.2%

in 2024

India rank

4th

World rank

7th

Prevalence of underweight, weight for age over time

India
World

How they compare

India currently reports 31.5% against 12.2% in World, a difference of 19.3%.

That makes India's figure about 2.6 times World's.

Across all 5 years both countries report, India has been ahead every year.

India ranks 4th and World ranks 7th of 96 countries.

India has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	India	World	Difference	Ahead
2000s	43.5%	18.4%	25.1%	India
2010s	33.2%	14.2%	18.9%	India
2020s	31.5%	12.8%	18.6%	India

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher prevalence of underweight, weight for age, India or World?: India, at 31.5% against 12.2% in World as of 2020.
What is the difference in prevalence of underweight, weight for age between India and World?: 19.3%, with India ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for India and World?: 5 years are reported by both, from 2006 to 2020.
How do India and World rank globally for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?: India ranks 4th and World ranks 7th of 96 countries.
Where does this data come from?: UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children', published as Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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India vs World: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children'. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/prevalence-of-underweight-weight-for-age-percent-of-children-under-5/india/world/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/compare/prevalence-of-underweight-weight-for-age-percent-of-children-under-5/india/world/">India vs World: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5)
Unit: % of children under 5
Source: UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children'
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 110 places, 1,307 data points, 1984–2024
Last refreshed: 03 September 2026

Prevalence of underweight children is the percentage of children under age 5 whose weight for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. The data are based on the WHO's 2006 Child Growth Standards.