Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Iraq
Iraq: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 3.9% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Iraq, 1991–2018
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Iraq is 3.9%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 45.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Iraq peaked at 12.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2018.
Iraq ranks 67th of 96 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.4% | — |
| 2000 | 12.8% | +23.1% |
| 2003 | 10.1% | -21.1% |
| 2004 | 8.0% | -20.8% |
| 2006 | 7.1% | -11.3% |
| 2011 | 7.2% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | -45.8% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 3.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.0%, 96% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 3.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.8%, 1.0× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.4% | 10.4% | 10.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 9.5% | 7.1% | 12.8% | 4 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 3.9% | 7.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More health data for Iraq
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.4 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 898.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 5,830 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.988 % 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 0.0587 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9818 % 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 Iraq?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Iraq was 3.9% 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 12.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2018.
- How does Iraq rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Iraq ranks 67th out of 96 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iraq 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.