Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Mozambique
Mozambique: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 15.4% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Mozambique, 1995–2022
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Mozambique is 15.4%, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 4.1% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Mozambique peaked at 24.7% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 14.8%, in 2020.
Mozambique ranks 28th of 96 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Mozambique, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 23.9% | — |
| 1997 | 24.7% | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 24.5% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 21.2% | -13.5% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | -14.2% |
| 2011 | 15.6% | -14.3% |
| 2015 | 15.6% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 14.8% | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 15.4% | +4.1% |
Mozambique compared with similar countries
- Mozambique's 15.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 16.9%, 91% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Mozambique's 15.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.3%, 1.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.3% | 23.9% | 24.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 21.3% | 18.2% | 24.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 15.6% | 15.6% | 15.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 14.8% | 15.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Mozambique
More health data for Mozambique
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.85 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.16 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 869.7 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 18,288 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 139 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.92 % 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 0.0823 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.92 % 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 Mozambique?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Mozambique was 15.4% 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 Mozambique?
- The highest recorded value was 24.7% in 1997.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Mozambique?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.8% in 2020.
- How does Mozambique rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Mozambique ranks 28th out of 96 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Mozambique?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mozambique 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.