Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 2.9% in 2018. ▬ Flat
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Costa Rica, 1989–2018
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
Costa Rica recorded 2.9% for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in 2018.
The figure is up 222.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Costa Rica peaked at 3.8% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2008.
Costa Rica ranks 76th of 96 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 2.4% | — |
| 1990 | 2.5% | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 2.2% | -12.0% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | -9.1% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.9% | -5.0% |
| 1996 | 3.8% | +100.0% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | -76.3% |
| 2018 | 2.9% | +222.2% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 2.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.8%, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 2.9% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.7%, 78% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 2.4% | 1.9% | 3.8% | 6 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 73 Azerbaijan 3.0% compare
- 73 Dominican Republic 3.0% compare
- 73 Morocco 3.0% compare
- 76 Kyrgyzstan 2.9% compare
- 76 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 2.9% compare
- 79 Kuwait 2.8% compare
More health data for Costa Rica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.78 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4617 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,632 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 35 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -3.42 % 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 0.0248 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -3.37 % 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 Costa Rica?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Costa Rica was 2.9% 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 1996.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2008.
- How does Costa Rica rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Costa Rica ranks 76th out of 96 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 222.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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.