Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in China
China: Prevalence of overweight, weight for height was 8.5% in 2017. ▬ Flat
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in China, 1990–2017
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 2017, prevalence of overweight, weight for height in China stood at 8.5%.
The figure is up 46.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of overweight, weight for height in China peaked at 13.6% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 2000.
China ranks 23rd of 93 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in China, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.3% | — |
| 1992 | 7.2% | +35.8% |
| 1995 | 13.6% | +88.9% |
| 1998 | 5.5% | -59.6% |
| 2000 | 3.4% | -38.2% |
| 2002 | 9.2% | +170.6% |
| 2005 | 5.9% | -35.9% |
| 2008 | 5.8% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 5.7% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 6.6% | +15.8% |
| 2013 | 9.1% | +37.9% |
| 2017 | 8.5% | -6.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 8.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.6%, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- China's 8.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.9%, 1.7× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.9% | 5.3% | 13.6% | 4 |
| 2000s | 6.0% | 3.4% | 9.2% | 5 |
| 2010s | 8.1% | 6.6% | 9.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
- 20 Jordan 9.2% compare
- 21 Kyrgyzstan 8.8% compare
- 22 Palestine, State of 8.6% compare
- 24 El Salvador 8.3% compare
- 24 Nicaragua 8.3% compare
- 24 Romania 8.3% compare
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % 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 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % 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 in China?
- Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in China was 8.5% in 2017, 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 13.6% in 1995.
- What is the lowest prevalence of overweight, weight for height recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 2000.
- How does China rank for prevalence of overweight, weight for height?
- China ranks 23rd out of 93 countries with data for 2017.
- Is prevalence of overweight, weight for height rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this China 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.