Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Jamaica
Jamaica: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female was 1.0% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Jamaica, 1989–2018
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
Jamaica recorded 1.0% for prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in 2018.
That represents a change of down 74.4% on the previous year and up 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Jamaica peaked at 6.5% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2008.
Jamaica ranks 80th of 83 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 3.9% | — |
| 1991 | 3.5% | -10.3% |
| 1992 | 6.2% | +77.1% |
| 1993 | 6.5% | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | -44.6% |
| 1995 | 4.3% | +19.4% |
| 1996 | 4.6% | +7.0% |
| 1997 | 3.3% | -28.3% |
| 1998 | 1.1% | -66.7% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | +145.5% |
| 2000 | 3.2% | +18.5% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | -18.8% |
| 2002 | 2.4% | -7.7% |
| 2004 | 2.4% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | +170.8% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | -78.5% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | -35.7% |
| 2010 | 2.2% | +144.4% |
| 2012 | 2.5% | +13.6% |
| 2014 | 1.3% | -48.0% |
| 2016 | 3.9% | +200.0% |
| 2018 | 1.0% | -74.4% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 1.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.5%, 29% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 1.0% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 4.3%, 23% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 4.0% | 1.1% | 6.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.8% | 0.9% | 6.5% | 7 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | 1.0% | 3.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 77 Palestine 1.6% compare
- 78 Morocco 1.5% compare
- 79 Uruguay 1.3% compare
- 81 United Kingdom 0.5% compare
- 82 United States 0.3% compare
- 83 South Korea 0.2% compare
More health data for Jamaica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3325 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,308 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 31 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.64 % 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 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.6 % 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 underweight, weight for age, female in Jamaica?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Jamaica was 1.0% in 2018, 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 underweight, weight for age, female recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 6.5% in 1993.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2008.
- How does Jamaica rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female?
- Jamaica ranks 80th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Jamaica 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 underweight, weight for age, female (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of underweight, female, is the percentage of girls under age 5 whose weight for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. The data are based on the WHO's 2006 Child Growth Standards.