Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) in Laos
Laos: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) was 24.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Laos, 1993–2023
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
Laos recorded 24.3% for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in 2023.
The figure is down 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Laos peaked at 39.8% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 21.1%, in 2017.
That places Laos 8th out of 96 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) in Laos, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 39.8% | — |
| 1994 | 35.9% | -9.8% |
| 2000 | 35.6% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 31.6% | -11.2% |
| 2011 | 26.6% | -15.8% |
| 2015 | 25.5% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 21.1% | -17.3% |
| 2023 | 24.3% | +15.2% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 24.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 2.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Laos's 24.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.3%, 1.6× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.8% | 35.9% | 39.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 33.6% | 31.6% | 35.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 24.4% | 21.1% | 26.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 24.3% | 24.3% | 24.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 5 Burundi 28.3% compare
- 6 Democratic Republic of Congo 25.0% compare
- 7 Nigeria 24.4% compare
- 9 Pakistan 23.1% compare
- 10 Madagascar 22.6% compare
- 11 Mauritania 22.4% compare
More health data for Laos
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.5667 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 317 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 15 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5161 % 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 0.0489 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5055 % 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 0.0511 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Laos?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Laos was 24.3% in 2023, 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 39.8% in 1993.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.1% in 2017.
- How does Laos rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Laos ranks 8th out of 96 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Laos 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.