Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Cambodia
Cambodia: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 16.3% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Cambodia, 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
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Cambodia is 16.3%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 43.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Cambodia peaked at 42.6% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 16.3%, in 2021.
That places Cambodia 25th out of 96 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Cambodia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 42.6% | — |
| 2000 | 39.7% | -6.8% |
| 2005 | 28.3% | -28.7% |
| 2008 | 28.3% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 28.9% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 24.1% | -16.6% |
| 2021 | 16.3% | -32.4% |
Cambodia compared with similar countries
- Cambodia's 16.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 1.4× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Cambodia's 16.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.3%, 1.1× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.6% | 42.6% | 42.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 32.1% | 28.3% | 39.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 26.5% | 24.1% | 28.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 16.3% | 16.3% | 16.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Cambodia
- 22 Sri Lanka 17.1% compare
- 23 Burkina Faso 16.9% compare
- 24 Philippines 16.7% compare
- 26 Senegal 16.2% compare
- 27 Indonesia 15.9% compare
- 28 Mozambique 15.4% compare
More health data for Cambodia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.78 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.572 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,125 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 1,047 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.05 % 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 0.0488 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.05 % 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 Cambodia?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Cambodia was 16.3% 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 Cambodia?
- The highest recorded value was 42.6% in 1996.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Cambodia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.3% in 2021.
- How does Cambodia rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Cambodia ranks 25th out of 96 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Cambodia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Cambodia 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.