2.2.2a Prevalence of overweight among children under 5 (%) in Malawi
Malawi: 2.2.2a Prevalence of overweight among children under 5 (%) was 3.9 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
3.9
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
111th
of 160 countries
All-time high
12.2
in 2001
All-time low
3.8
in 2018
Years of data
23
2000–2022
2.2.2a Prevalence of overweight among children under 5 in Malawi, 2000–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 3.9 for 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 in 2022.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and down 20.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 in Malawi peaked at 12.2 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 3.8, in 2018.
Malawi ranks 111th of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
2.2.2a Prevalence of overweight among children under 5 (%) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12.1 | — |
| 2001 | 12.2 | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 11.9 | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 11.4 | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 10.7 | -6.1% |
| 2005 | 9.7 | -9.3% |
| 2006 | 8.8 | -9.3% |
| 2007 | 7.8 | -11.4% |
| 2008 | 7 | -10.3% |
| 2009 | 6.3 | -10.0% |
| 2010 | 5.7 | -9.5% |
| 2011 | 5.3 | -7.0% |
| 2012 | 4.9 | -7.5% |
| 2013 | 4.6 | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 4.4 | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 4.2 | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 4 | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 3.9 | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 3.8 | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 3.8 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 3.8 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 3.8 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3.9 | +2.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 3.9 is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.2, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 3.9 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.8, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.79 | 6.3 | 12.2 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.46 | 3.8 | 5.7 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.83 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 6,399 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0718 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 in Malawi?
- 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 in Malawi was 3.9 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 12.2 in 2001.
- What is the lowest 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8 in 2018.
- How does Malawi rank for 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5?
- Malawi ranks 111th out of 160 countries with data for 2022.
- Is 2.2.2a prevalence of overweight among children under 5 rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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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