Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Egypt
Egypt: Prevalence of overweight, weight for height was 10.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Egypt, 1988–2021
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
Egypt recorded 10.1% for prevalence of overweight, weight for height in 2021.
The figure is down 50.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Egypt peaked at 20.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 1988.
That places Egypt 13th out of 93 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Egypt, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 6.7% | — |
| 1991 | 14.9% | +122.4% |
| 1992 | 14.3% | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 14.6% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 9.2% | -37.0% |
| 2005 | 14.1% | +53.3% |
| 2008 | 20.4% | +44.7% |
| 2014 | 15.7% | -23.0% |
| 2021 | 10.1% | -35.7% |
Egypt compared with similar countries
- Egypt's 10.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.0%, 2.5× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Egypt's 10.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 8.6%, 1.2× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 14.6% | 14.3% | 14.9% | 3 |
| 2000s | 14.6% | 9.2% | 20.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 15.7% | 15.7% | 15.7% | 1 |
| 2020s | 10.1% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
More health data for Egypt
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.46 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7884 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 946 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 7,225 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.3993 % 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 0.0487 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.4524 % 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 Egypt?
- Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Egypt was 10.1% in 2021, 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 Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was 20.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest prevalence of overweight, weight for height recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 1988.
- How does Egypt rank for prevalence of overweight, weight for height?
- Egypt ranks 13th out of 93 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of overweight, weight for height rising or falling in Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Egypt 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.