Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Cameroon
Cameroon: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 11.0% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Cameroon, 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
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Cameroon is 11.0%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Cameroon peaked at 18.1% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 11.0%, in 2018.
Cameroon ranks 44th of 96 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 12.9% | — |
| 1998 | 18.1% | +40.3% |
| 2004 | 15.1% | -16.6% |
| 2006 | 16.5% | +9.3% |
| 2011 | 15.2% | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 14.8% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 11.0% | -25.7% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 11.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 95% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 11.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.3%, 77% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.5% | 12.9% | 18.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 15.8% | 15.1% | 16.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.7% | 11.0% | 15.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More health data for Cameroon
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7821 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 786.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 12,841 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 17 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.22 % 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 0.0746 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.21 % 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 Cameroon?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Cameroon was 11.0% 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 recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 18.1% in 1998.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.0% in 2018.
- How does Cameroon rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Cameroon ranks 44th out of 96 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.