Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Malawi
Malawi: Prevalence of overweight, weight for height was 4.4% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Malawi, 1992–2020
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Malawi is 4.4%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 39.7% on the previous year and down 51.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Malawi peaked at 17.3% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2016.
That places Malawi 49th out of 93 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 9.8% | — |
| 1998 | 17.3% | +76.5% |
| 2000 | 8.8% | -49.1% |
| 2002 | 10.0% | +13.6% |
| 2004 | 10.2% | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 11.3% | +10.8% |
| 2009 | 4.9% | -56.6% |
| 2010 | 9.0% | +83.7% |
| 2014 | 5.1% | -43.3% |
| 2015 | 4.6% | -9.8% |
| 2016 | 1.5% | -67.4% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | +6.7% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | +56.2% |
| 2019 | 7.3% | +192.0% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | -39.7% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 4.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.2%, 2.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 4.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.9%, 1.5× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.6% | 9.8% | 17.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 4.9% | 11.3% | 5 |
| 2010s | 4.5% | 1.5% | 9.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % 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 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % 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 Malawi?
- Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Malawi was 4.4% 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 17.3% in 1998.
- What is the lowest prevalence of overweight, weight for height recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2016.
- How does Malawi rank for prevalence of overweight, weight for height?
- Malawi ranks 49th out of 93 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of overweight, weight for height rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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.