2.2.2a Prevalence of overweight among children under 5 (%) in Australia
Australia: 2.2.2a Prevalence of overweight among children under 5 (%) was 21.8 in 2022. ▲ Rising
2.2.2a Prevalence of overweight among children under 5 in Australia, 2000–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 in Australia is 21.8, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 59.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 in Australia peaked at 21.8 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 7.1, in 2000.
Australia ranks 2nd of 160 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
2.2.2a Prevalence of overweight among children under 5 (%) in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.1 | — |
| 2001 | 7.3 | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 7.6 | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 8 | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 8.5 | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 9 | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 9.5 | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 10.1 | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 10.7 | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 11.4 | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 12.1 | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 12.9 | +6.6% |
| 2012 | 13.7 | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 14.5 | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 15.3 | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 16.2 | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 17 | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 17.9 | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 18.8 | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 19.6 | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 20.4 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 21.1 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 21.8 | +3.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 21.8 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.6, 2.9× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Australia's 21.8 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.4, 4.0× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.92 | 7.1 | 11.4 | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.8 | 12.1 | 19.6 | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.1 | 20.4 | 21.8 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 215 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 in Australia?
- 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 in Australia was 21.8 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.8 in 2022.
- What is the lowest 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1 in 2000.
- How does Australia rank for 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5?
- Australia ranks 2nd out of 160 countries with data for 2022.
- Is 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of 2.2.2a Prevalence of overweight among children under 5 (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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