Prevalence of anemia among children in South Asia
South Asia: Prevalence of anemia among children was 51.7% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among children in South Asia, 2000–2019
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of children ages 6-59 months.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 51.7% for prevalence of anemia among children in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and down 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among children in South Asia peaked at 67.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 51.7%, in 2019.
That places South Asia 14th out of 46 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Prevalence of anemia among children in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of children ages 6-59 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 67.4% | — |
| 2001 | 66.2% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 65.1% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 64.1% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 63.1% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 62.2% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 61.2% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 60.2% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 59.3% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 58.4% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 57.5% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 56.7% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 55.9% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 55.2% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 54.5% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 53.8% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 53.2% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 52.7% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 52.2% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 51.7% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 62.7% | 58.4% | 67.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.3% | 51.7% | 57.5% | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 11 Benin 71.0% compare
- 12 Nigeria 68.9% compare
- 13 Mozambique 68.2% compare
- 14 Guinea-Bissau 68.0% compare
- 15 Senegal 67.9% compare
- 16 Chad 66.3% compare
- 17 Mauritania 65.5% compare
More health data for South Asia
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, male, annual growth rate 0.1112 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per capita 0.0146 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.043 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, annual growth rate 2.63 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of anemia among children in South Asia?
- Prevalence of anemia among children in South Asia was 51.7% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 67.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among children recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.7% in 2019.
- How does South Asia rank for prevalence of anemia among children?
- South Asia ranks 14th out of 46 groups with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of anemia among children rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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.