Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) in Iran
Iran: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) was 4.3% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Iran, 1995–2017
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 2017, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Iran stood at 4.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Iran peaked at 13.8% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 2010.
That places Iran 65th out of 96 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 13.8% | — |
| 1998 | 9.5% | -31.2% |
| 2004 | 4.6% | -51.6% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | -10.9% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | +4.9% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 4.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.0%, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Iran's 4.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.8%, 1.1× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.7% | 9.5% | 13.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More health data for Iran
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.38 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.5627 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 1,070 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.88 % 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 0.0311 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0327 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Iran?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Iran was 4.3% in 2017, 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 13.8% in 1995.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 2010.
- How does Iran rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Iran ranks 65th out of 96 countries with data for 2017.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.