Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in North Korea
North Korea: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 9.3% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in North Korea, 1998–2017
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in North Korea is 9.3%, measured in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 50.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in North Korea peaked at 55.5% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 9.3%, in 2017.
That places North Korea 53rd out of 96 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 55.5% | — |
| 2000 | 24.7% | -55.5% |
| 2002 | 17.7% | -28.3% |
| 2004 | 20.6% | +16.4% |
| 2009 | 18.8% | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 15.2% | -19.1% |
| 2017 | 9.3% | -38.8% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 9.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 16.9%, 55% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 9.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.3%, 61% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 55.5% | 55.5% | 55.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 20.4% | 17.7% | 24.7% | 4 |
| 2010s | 12.2% | 9.3% | 15.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More health data for North Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,462 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 767 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.031 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6303 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.6995 % change on previous year (2025)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight, weight for age in North Korea?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in North Korea was 9.3% 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 55.5% in 1998.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.3% in 2017.
- How does North Korea rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- North Korea ranks 53rd out of 96 countries with data for 2017.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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.