Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Pakistan
Pakistan: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female was 22.1% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Pakistan, 1991–2018
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
Pakistan recorded 22.1% for prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Pakistan peaked at 36.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 22.1%, in 2018.
Pakistan ranks 9th of 83 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 36.9% | — |
| 1992 | 36.5% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 30.9% | -15.3% |
| 2011 | 30.8% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 29.5% | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 22.1% | -25.1% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 22.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.8%, 2.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 22.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.9%, 7.6× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.7% | 36.5% | 36.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 30.9% | 30.9% | 30.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 27.5% | 22.1% | 30.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 6 Nigeria 23.7% compare
- 7 Laos 23.4% compare
- 8 Democratic Republic of Congo 22.9% compare
- 10 Bangladesh 21.8% compare
- 11 Madagascar 20.8% compare
- 12 Nepal 20.4% compare
- 12 Sri Lanka 20.4% compare
More health data for Pakistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.14 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8219 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 944.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 55,286 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 335 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5028 % 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 0.0616 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.4109 % 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 Pakistan?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female in Pakistan was 22.1% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 36.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.1% in 2018.
- How does Pakistan rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female?
- Pakistan ranks 9th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age, female rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.