Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Lesotho
Lesotho: Prevalence of overweight, weight for height was 7.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Lesotho, 2004–2024
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
Lesotho recorded 7.7% for prevalence of overweight, weight for height in 2024. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Lesotho peaked at 7.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.6%, in 2018.
Lesotho ranks 29th of 93 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 6.7% | — |
| 2009 | 7.3% | +9.0% |
| 2014 | 7.5% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 6.6% | -12.0% |
| 2024 | 7.7% | +16.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 7.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.0%, 1.9× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 7.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.9%, 2.7× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.0% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 7.0% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 7.7% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More health data for Lesotho
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4669 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,227 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 382 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2020)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.8108 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0548 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Lesotho?
- Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Lesotho was 7.7% in 2024, 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 7.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of overweight, weight for height recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.6% in 2018.
- How does Lesotho rank for prevalence of overweight, weight for height?
- Lesotho ranks 29th out of 93 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of overweight, weight for height rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.