Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in India
India: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 31.5% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in India, 1989–2020
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 India is 31.5%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.8% on the previous year and down 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in India peaked at 55.5% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 29.4%, in 2014.
India ranks 4th of 96 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in India, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 55.5% | — |
| 1991 | 52.8% | -4.9% |
| 1992 | 51.3% | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 38.4% | -25.1% |
| 1999 | 45.4% | +18.2% |
| 2006 | 43.5% | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 29.4% | -32.4% |
| 2015 | 36.3% | +23.5% |
| 2017 | 33.8% | -6.9% |
| 2020 | 31.5% | -6.8% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 31.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 2.7× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- India's 31.5% is above the median for South Asia, which is 17.7%, 1.8× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 55.5% | 55.5% | 55.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 47.0% | 38.4% | 52.8% | 4 |
| 2000s | 43.5% | 43.5% | 43.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 33.2% | 29.4% | 36.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 31.5% | 31.5% | 31.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % 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 India?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in India was 31.5% in 2020, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 55.5% in 1989.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.4% in 2014.
- How does India rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- India ranks 4th out of 96 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.