Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age was 45.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in Afghanistan, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of women ages 15-49.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 45.4% for prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in Afghanistan peaked at 45.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 31.4%, in 2002.
That places Afghanistan 17th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31.6% | — |
| 2001 | 31.5% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 31.4% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 31.6% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 31.9% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 32.3% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 32.7% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 33.2% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 33.7% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 34.3% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 34.9% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 35.7% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 36.5% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 37.4% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 38.3% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 39.2% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 40.1% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 40.9% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 41.7% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 42.4% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 43.1% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 43.7% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 44.5% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 45.4% | +2.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 45.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 40.0%, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 45.4% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 29.5%, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 32.4% | 31.4% | 34.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.7% | 34.9% | 42.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.2% | 43.1% | 45.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 14 Haiti 45.9% compare
- 15 Guinea 45.7% compare
- 15 Guinea-Bissau 45.7% compare
- 18 Sierra Leone 44.6% compare
- 19 Burkina Faso 44.3% compare
- 20 Angola 43.8% compare
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in Afghanistan?
- Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in Afghanistan was 45.4% in 2023, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 45.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.4% in 2002.
- How does Afghanistan rank for prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age?
- Afghanistan ranks 17th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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 women of reproductive age (% of women ages 15-49). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age refers to the combined prevalence of both non-pregnant with haemoglobin levels below 12 g/dL and pregnant women with haemoglobin levels below 11 g/dL.