Prevalence of overweight, weight for height (% of children under 5) in South Korea
South Korea: Prevalence of overweight, weight for height (% of children under 5) was 6.2% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in South Korea, 2003–2020
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
South Korea recorded 6.2% for prevalence of overweight, weight for height in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 44.2% on the previous year and down 22.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of overweight, weight for height in South Korea peaked at 9.6% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2017.
That places South Korea 36th out of 93 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height (% of children under 5) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 6.2% | — |
| 2008 | 9.6% | +54.8% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | -16.7% |
| 2014 | 5.1% | -36.3% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -15.7% |
| 2020 | 6.2% | +44.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 6.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.2%, 76% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 6.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.9%, 1.3× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.9% | 6.2% | 9.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.8% | 4.3% | 8.0% | 3 |
| 2020s | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of overweight, weight for height in South Korea?
- Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in South Korea was 6.2% 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 recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 2008.
- What is the lowest prevalence of overweight, weight for height recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2017.
- How does South Korea rank for prevalence of overweight, weight for height?
- South Korea ranks 36th out of 93 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of overweight, weight for height rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea 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.