Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Prevalence of overweight, weight for height was 4.5% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Afghanistan, 1997–2022
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Afghanistan is 4.5%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Afghanistan peaked at 6.5% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 2018.
Afghanistan ranks 45th of 93 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 6.5% | — |
| 2004 | 4.6% | -29.2% |
| 2013 | 5.3% | +15.2% |
| 2018 | 4.1% | -22.6% |
| 2022 | 4.5% | +9.8% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 4.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.2%, 2.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 4.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 8.6%, 52% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 4.7% | 4.1% | 5.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
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 overweight, weight for height in Afghanistan?
- Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Afghanistan was 4.5% in 2022, 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 recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 6.5% in 1997.
- What is the lowest prevalence of overweight, weight for height recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 2018.
- How does Afghanistan rank for prevalence of overweight, weight for height?
- Afghanistan ranks 45th out of 93 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of overweight, weight for height rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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 (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of overweight children is the percentage of children 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.