Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malaysia
Malaysia: Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was 28.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malaysia, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malaysia stood at 28.8%. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malaysia peaked at 35.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 28.8%, in 2023.
That places Malaysia 89th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.6% | — |
| 2001 | 35.3% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 34.9% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 34.5% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 34.2% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 33.9% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 33.6% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 33.3% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 33.0% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 32.7% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 32.4% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 32.1% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 31.9% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 31.7% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 31.5% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 31.3% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 31.0% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 30.8% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 30.5% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 30.2% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 29.8% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 29.5% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 29.1% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 28.8% | -1.0% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 28.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 26.9%, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 28.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 25.8%, 1.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 34.1% | 32.7% | 35.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.3% | 30.2% | 32.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.3% | 28.8% | 29.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 86 Kiribati 29.4% compare
- 87 South Africa 29.3% compare
- 88 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 29.1% compare
- 89 Peru 28.8% compare
- 91 United Arab Emirates 28.6% compare
- 92 Kuwait 28.5% compare
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 652 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 18 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7207 % 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 0.0297 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5991 % 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 pregnant women in Malaysia?
- Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malaysia was 28.8% in 2023, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest prevalence of anemia among pregnant women recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 35.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among pregnant women recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.8% in 2023.
- How does Malaysia rank for prevalence of anemia among pregnant women?
- Malaysia ranks 89th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of anemia among pregnant women rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia 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 pregnant women (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of anemia, pregnant women, is the percentage of pregnant women whose hemoglobin level is less than 110 grams per liter at sea level.