Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Madagascar
Madagascar: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 22.6% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Madagascar, 1992–2021
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
Madagascar recorded 22.6% for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 14.4% on the previous year and down 20.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Madagascar peaked at 40.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 22.6%, in 2021.
That places Madagascar 10th out of 96 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 35.2% | — |
| 1993 | 40.9% | +16.2% |
| 1995 | 30.4% | -25.7% |
| 1997 | 35.6% | +17.1% |
| 2004 | 36.7% | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 28.4% | -22.6% |
| 2012 | 32.6% | +14.8% |
| 2018 | 26.4% | -19.0% |
| 2021 | 22.6% | -14.4% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 22.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 16.9%, 1.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 22.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.3%, 1.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35.5% | 30.4% | 40.9% | 4 |
| 2000s | 36.7% | 36.7% | 36.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 29.1% | 26.4% | 32.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 22.6% | 22.6% | 22.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
- 7 Nigeria 24.4% compare
- 8 Lao People's Democratic Republic 24.3% compare
- 9 Pakistan 23.1% compare
- 11 Mauritania 22.4% compare
- 12 Bangladesh 21.7% compare
- 13 Ethiopia 21.2% compare
More health data for Madagascar
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.87 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4912 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 920.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,569 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 63 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.071 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Madagascar?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Madagascar was 22.6% in 2021, 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 Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 40.9% in 1993.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.6% in 2021.
- How does Madagascar rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Madagascar ranks 10th out of 96 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Madagascar 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.