Laos vs Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age

Laos
24.3%
in 2023
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
9.2%
in 2024
Laos rank
8th
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank
8th

Prevalence of underweight, weight for age over time

  • Laos
  • Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
10203040199320082024

How they compare

Laos currently reports 24.3% against 9.2% in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, a difference of 15.1%.

That makes Laos's figure about 2.6 times Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan's.

Across all 6 years both countries report, Laos has been ahead every year.

Laos ranks 8th and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 8th of 96 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Laos Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan Difference Ahead
2000s 33.6% 15.4% 18.2% Laos
2010s 24.4% 11.7% 12.7% Laos
2020s 24.3% 9.4% 14.9% Laos

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher prevalence of underweight, weight for age, Laos or Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
Laos, at 24.3% against 9.2% in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan as of 2023.
What is the difference in prevalence of underweight, weight for age between Laos and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
15.1%, with Laos ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Laos and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
6 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2023.
How do Laos and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank globally for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
Laos ranks 8th and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 8th 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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Laos vs Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: 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 19 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/prevalence-of-underweight-weight-for-age-percent-of-children-under-5/lao-pdr/middle-east-north-africa-afghanistan-and-pakistan/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/compare/prevalence-of-underweight-weight-for-age-percent-of-children-under-5/lao-pdr/middle-east-north-africa-afghanistan-and-pakistan/">Laos vs Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: 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

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.