Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Bhutan
Bhutan: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 8.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Bhutan, 1987–2023
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Bhutan is 8.7%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 31.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Bhutan peaked at 34.0% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 8.7%, in 2023.
That places Bhutan 55th out of 96 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 34.0% | — |
| 1999 | 13.9% | -59.1% |
| 2008 | 10.4% | -25.2% |
| 2010 | 12.7% | +22.1% |
| 2023 | 8.7% | -31.5% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 8.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 75% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 8.7% is below the median for South Asia, which is 17.7%, 49% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 34.0% | 34.0% | 34.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 13.9% | 13.9% | 13.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 10.4% | 10.4% | 10.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.7% | 12.7% | 12.7% | 1 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More health data for Bhutan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -10 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0915 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,531 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 9 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.2986 % 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 0.0299 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.3987 % 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 Bhutan?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Bhutan was 8.7% in 2023, 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 Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 34.0% in 1987.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.7% in 2023.
- How does Bhutan rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Bhutan ranks 55th out of 96 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan 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.