Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Jamaica
Jamaica: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 2.5% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Jamaica, 1989–2018
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 Jamaica is 2.5%, measured in 2018.
The figure is down 43.2% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Jamaica peaked at 6.1% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 2007.
That places Jamaica 83rd out of 96 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 5.8% | — |
| 1991 | 5.6% | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 5.7% | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 6.1% | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 4.6% | -24.6% |
| 1995 | 4.8% | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 5.6% | +16.7% |
| 1997 | 3.5% | -37.5% |
| 1998 | 3.8% | +8.6% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | -44.7% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | +85.7% |
| 2001 | 4.0% | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | -32.5% |
| 2004 | 3.1% | +14.8% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | +54.8% |
| 2007 | 1.8% | -62.5% |
| 2008 | 2.4% | +33.3% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | +41.7% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | -20.6% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | -18.5% |
| 2016 | 4.4% | +100.0% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | -43.2% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 2.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.0%, 62% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 2.5% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.7%, 68% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 4.6% | 2.1% | 6.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.2% | 1.8% | 4.8% | 7 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 2.2% | 4.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More health data for Jamaica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3325 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,308 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 31 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.64 % 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 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.6 % 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 Jamaica?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Jamaica was 2.5% 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 6.1% in 1993.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 2007.
- How does Jamaica rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Jamaica ranks 83rd out of 96 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.