Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Guatemala
Guatemala: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 14.4% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Guatemala, 1987–2021
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 Guatemala is 14.4%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Guatemala peaked at 27.8% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 12.4%, in 2015.
That places Guatemala 34th out of 96 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Guatemala, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 27.8% | — |
| 1995 | 21.7% | -21.9% |
| 1999 | 20.3% | -6.5% |
| 2000 | 18.8% | -7.4% |
| 2002 | 18.2% | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 14.1% | -22.5% |
| 2015 | 12.4% | -12.1% |
| 2021 | 14.4% | +16.1% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 14.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.0%, 3.6× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 14.4% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.7%, 3.9× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 27.8% | 27.8% | 27.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 21.0% | 20.3% | 21.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 17.0% | 14.1% | 18.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 12.4% | 12.4% | 1 |
| 2020s | 14.4% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
More health data for Guatemala
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.92 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7968 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,202 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 1,022 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.4059 % 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 0.0487 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.3488 % 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 Guatemala?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Guatemala was 14.4% 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 27.8% in 1987.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.4% in 2015.
- How does Guatemala rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Guatemala ranks 34th out of 96 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Guatemala 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.