Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Mexico
Mexico: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 4.2% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Mexico, 1988–2022
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
In 2022, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Mexico stood at 4.2%.
The figure is up 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Mexico peaked at 10.9% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2012.
Mexico ranks 66th of 96 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Mexico, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 10.9% | — |
| 1989 | 9.6% | -11.9% |
| 1996 | 10.3% | +7.3% |
| 1998 | 5.6% | -45.6% |
| 2002 | 4.2% | -25.0% |
| 2005 | 6.0% | +42.9% |
| 2006 | 3.4% | -43.3% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | -17.6% |
| 2015 | 3.9% | +39.3% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | +7.7% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | +11.9% |
| 2020 | 4.6% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | -8.7% |
| 2022 | 4.2% | +0.0% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 4.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.0%, 1.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 4.2% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.7%, 1.1× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.2% | 9.6% | 10.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 8.0% | 5.6% | 10.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.5% | 3.4% | 6.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 3.9% | 2.8% | 4.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 4.3% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More health data for Mexico
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6599 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,312 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,760 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.9607 % 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 0.0377 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.9678 % 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 Mexico?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Mexico was 4.2% in 2022, 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 10.9% in 1988.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2012.
- How does Mexico rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Mexico ranks 66th out of 96 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mexico 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.