Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Prevalence of overweight, weight for height was 2.8% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Sierra Leone, 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
In 2021, prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Sierra Leone stood at 2.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 37.8% on the previous year and up 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Sierra Leone peaked at 5.9% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2010.
Sierra Leone ranks 70th of 93 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.8% | — |
| 2005 | 5.9% | +22.9% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | -76.3% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | +50.0% |
| 2017 | 4.2% | +100.0% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | -37.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 2.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.2%, 1.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 2.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.9%, 97% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.3% | 4.8% | 5.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 1.4% | 4.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,199 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,209 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % 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 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % 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 Sierra Leone?
- Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Sierra Leone was 2.8% 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 5.9% in 2005.
- What is the lowest prevalence of overweight, weight for height recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2010.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for prevalence of overweight, weight for height?
- Sierra Leone ranks 70th out of 93 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of overweight, weight for height rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.