Prevalence of anemia among children in India
India: Prevalence of anemia among children was 53.4% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among children in India, 2000–2019
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of children ages 6-59 months.
Analysis
India recorded 53.4% for prevalence of anemia among children in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among children in India peaked at 69.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 53.4%, in 2019.
That places India 33rd out of 190 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Prevalence of anemia among children in India, year by year
| Year | % of children ages 6-59 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 69.5% | — |
| 2001 | 68.3% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 67.3% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 66.3% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 65.3% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 64.4% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 63.4% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 62.5% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 61.5% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 60.6% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 59.7% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 58.8% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 58.0% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 57.2% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 56.4% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 55.7% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 55.0% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 54.5% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 53.9% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 53.4% | -0.9% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 53.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.9%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 53.4% is above the median for South Asia, which is 43.9%, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 64.9% | 60.6% | 69.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.3% | 53.4% | 59.7% | 10 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of anemia among children in India?
- Prevalence of anemia among children in India was 53.4% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 69.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among children recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.4% in 2019.
- How does India rank for prevalence of anemia among children?
- India ranks 33rd out of 190 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of anemia among children rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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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About this data
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.