Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Mauritania
Mauritania: Prevalence of overweight, weight for height was 1.0% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Mauritania, 2000–2021
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Mauritania is 1.0%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.3% on the previous year and down 68.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Mauritania peaked at 3.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2008.
That places Mauritania 91st out of 93 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.8% | — |
| 2007 | 2.3% | -39.5% |
| 2008 | 1.0% | -56.5% |
| 2011 | 3.2% | +220.0% |
| 2012 | 1.2% | -62.5% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | +15.4% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | -20.0% |
| 2020 | 1.5% | +25.0% |
| 2021 | 1.0% | -33.3% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 1.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.0%, 25% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 1.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.9%, 34% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.4% | 1.0% | 3.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.2% | 3.2% | 5 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
More health data for Mauritania
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8878 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 653 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 1,563 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.77 % 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 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.77 % 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 Mauritania?
- Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Mauritania was 1.0% 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 Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of overweight, weight for height recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2008.
- How does Mauritania rank for prevalence of overweight, weight for height?
- Mauritania ranks 91st out of 93 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of overweight, weight for height rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 68.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mauritania 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.