Prevalence of anemia among children in Australia

Australia: Prevalence of anemia among children was 13.3% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
13.3%
Change on year
up 3.9%
World rank
182nd
of 190 countries
All-time high
13.3%
in 2019
All-time low
11.5%
in 2012
Years of data
20
2000–2019

Prevalence of anemia among children in Australia, 2000–2019

0510152000200920192000: 11.8 % of children ages 6-59 months2001: 11.7 % of children ages 6-59 months2002: 11.6 % of children ages 6-59 months2003: 11.6 % of children ages 6-59 months2004: 11.6 % of children ages 6-59 months2005: 11.6 % of children ages 6-59 months2006: 11.6 % of children ages 6-59 months2007: 11.7 % of children ages 6-59 months2008: 11.6 % of children ages 6-59 months2009: 11.6 % of children ages 6-59 months2010: 11.6 % of children ages 6-59 months2011: 11.6 % of children ages 6-59 months2012: 11.5 % of children ages 6-59 months2013: 11.5 % of children ages 6-59 months2014: 11.6 % of children ages 6-59 months2015: 11.8 % of children ages 6-59 months2016: 12.1 % of children ages 6-59 months2017: 12.4 % of children ages 6-59 months2018: 12.8 % of children ages 6-59 months2019: 13.3 % of children ages 6-59 months

Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of children ages 6-59 months.

Analysis

In 2019, prevalence of anemia among children in Australia stood at 13.3%. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.

That represents a change of up 3.9% on the previous year and up 14.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among children in Australia peaked at 13.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 2012.

Australia ranks 182nd of 190 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.

Prevalence of anemia among children in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of anemia among children (% of children ages 6-59 months) in Australia, 2000 to 2019.
Year % of children ages 6-59 months Change
2000 11.8%
2001 11.7% -0.8%
2002 11.6% -0.9%
2003 11.6% +0.0%
2004 11.6% +0.0%
2005 11.6% +0.0%
2006 11.6% +0.0%
2007 11.7% +0.9%
2008 11.6% -0.9%
2009 11.6% +0.0%
2010 11.6% +0.0%
2011 11.6% +0.0%
2012 11.5% -0.9%
2013 11.5% +0.0%
2014 11.6% +0.9%
2015 11.8% +1.7%
2016 12.1% +2.5%
2017 12.4% +2.5%
2018 12.8% +3.2%
2019 13.3% +3.9%

Australia compared with similar countries

  • Australia's 13.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 17.3%, 77% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
  • Australia's 13.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.8%, 39% of the median. (30 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11.6% 11.6% 11.8% 10
2010s 12.0% 11.5% 13.3% 10

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 179 Norway 13.5% compare
  2. 179 Philippines 13.5% compare
  3. 179 Singapore 13.5% compare
  4. 183 Canada 13.2% compare
  5. 184 San Marino 12.8% compare
  6. 185 Finland 11.8% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More health data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of anemia among children in Australia?
Prevalence of anemia among children in Australia was 13.3% in 2019, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
What is the highest prevalence of anemia among children recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 13.3% in 2019.
What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among children recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 2012.
How does Australia rank for prevalence of anemia among children?
Australia ranks 182nd out of 190 countries with data for 2019.
Is prevalence of anemia among children rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Prevalence of anemia among children (% of children ages 6-59 months). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of anemia among children in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-anemia-among-children-percent-of-children-ages-6-59-months/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of anemia among children (% of children ages 6-59 months)
Unit
% of children ages 6-59 months
Source
Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
236 places, 4,716 data points, 2000–2019
Last refreshed

Prevalence of anemia, children ages 6-59 months, is the percentage of children ages 6-59 months whose hemoglobin level is less than 110 grams per liter, adjusted for altitude.