Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Liberia
Liberia: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female was 10.4% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Liberia, 2000–2019
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 2019, prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Liberia stood at 10.4%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.8% on the previous year and down 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Liberia peaked at 18.9% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 10.4%, in 2019.
Liberia ranks 40th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Liberia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17.7% | — |
| 2007 | 18.9% | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 15.2% | -19.6% |
| 2010 | 15.4% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 13.6% | -11.7% |
| 2016 | 12.2% | -10.3% |
| 2019 | 10.4% | -14.8% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 10.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 15.7%, 66% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 10.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.4%, 78% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.3% | 15.2% | 18.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 12.9% | 10.4% | 15.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
More health data for Liberia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.57 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7528 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,097 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,457 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.13 % 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 0.068 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.13 % 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 underweight, weight for age, female in Liberia?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Liberia was 10.4% in 2019, 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 Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.9% in 2007.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.4% in 2019.
- How does Liberia rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female?
- Liberia ranks 40th out of 83 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Liberia 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.