Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female in India
India: Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female was 3.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female in India, 1992–2020
Source: UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children'. Measured in % of children under 5.
Analysis
In 2020, prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female in India stood at 3.4%. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 112.5% on the previous year and up 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female in India peaked at 3.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2017.
India ranks 52nd of 85 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female in India, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 3.1% | — |
| 1999 | 3.3% | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | -48.5% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | +41.2% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | -33.3% |
| 2020 | 3.4% | +112.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 3.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.5%, 97% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- India's 3.4% is above the median for South Asia, which is 1.8%, 1.9× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.6% | 2.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1 |
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 overweight, weight for height, female in India?
- Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female in India was 3.4% in 2020, according to UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children'.
- What is the highest prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 3.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2017.
- How does India rank for prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female?
- India ranks 52nd out of 85 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children', published as part of Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of overweight, female, is the percentage of girls under age 5 whose weight for height is more than two standard deviations above the median for the international reference population of the corresponding age as established by the WHO's 2006 Child Growth Standards.