Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Eswatini
Eswatini: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 5.0% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Eswatini, 2000–2021
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 Eswatini stood at 5.0%. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of down 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Eswatini peaked at 9.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 2021.
Eswatini ranks 60th of 96 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.1% | — |
| 2006 | 6.0% | -34.1% |
| 2008 | 7.3% | +21.7% |
| 2010 | 5.9% | -19.2% |
| 2014 | 5.8% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | -13.8% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 5.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 43% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 5.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.3%, 35% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.5% | 6.0% | 9.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 57 Honduras 7.1% compare
- 58 Thailand 6.7% compare
- 59 Tajikistan 5.2% compare
- 60 El Salvador 5.0% compare
- 62 Ecuador 4.9% compare
- 62 South Africa 4.9% compare
More health data for Eswatini
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.9 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6228 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,406 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 206 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.6874 % 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 0.0553 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5455 % 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 Eswatini?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Eswatini was 5.0% 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 Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 9.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 2021.
- How does Eswatini rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Eswatini ranks 60th out of 96 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Eswatini 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.