Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Benin
Benin: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 19.6% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Benin, 1996–2021
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 underweight, weight for age in Benin stood at 19.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.7% on the previous year and up 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Benin peaked at 25.6% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 16.8%, in 2018.
Benin ranks 14th of 96 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Benin, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 25.6% | — |
| 2001 | 19.5% | -23.8% |
| 2008 | 17.1% | -12.3% |
| 2014 | 18.0% | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 16.8% | -6.7% |
| 2021 | 19.6% | +16.7% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 19.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 1.7× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Benin's 19.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.3%, 1.4× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.6% | 25.6% | 25.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 18.3% | 17.1% | 19.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 17.4% | 16.8% | 18.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 19.6% | 19.6% | 19.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Benin
- 11 Mauritania 22.4% compare
- 12 Bangladesh 21.7% compare
- 13 Ethiopia 21.2% compare
- 15 Myanmar 19.5% compare
- 16 Guinea-Bissau 18.8% compare
- 17 Afghanistan 18.4% compare
- 17 Central African Republic 18.4% compare
More health data for Benin
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8458 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,002 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 13,632 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 21 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.21 % 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 0.0741 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.24 % 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 in Benin?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Benin was 19.6% 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 underweight, weight for age recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 25.6% in 1996.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.8% in 2018.
- How does Benin rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Benin ranks 14th out of 96 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Benin 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 (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of underweight children is the percentage of children 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.