Prevalence of anemia among children in Zambia
Zambia: Prevalence of anemia among children was 55.1% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among children in Zambia, 2000–2019
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 Zambia stood at 55.1%.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among children in Zambia peaked at 65.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 53.9%, in 2013.
Zambia ranks 30th of 190 countries on this measure, 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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of children ages 6-59 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 65.6% | — |
| 2001 | 64.2% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 62.6% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 61.2% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 59.9% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 58.7% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 57.6% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 56.6% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 55.8% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 55.0% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 54.3% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 54.0% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 54.0% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 53.9% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 53.9% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 54.2% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 54.4% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 54.6% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 54.9% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 55.1% | +0.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 55.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.9%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 55.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 58.4%, 94% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 59.7% | 55.0% | 65.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.3% | 53.9% | 55.1% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of anemia among children in Zambia?
- Prevalence of anemia among children in Zambia was 55.1% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 65.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among children recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.9% in 2013.
- How does Zambia rank for prevalence of anemia among children?
- Zambia ranks 30th out of 190 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of anemia among children rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.