Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Pakistan
Pakistan: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 23.1% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Pakistan, 1986–2018
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 Pakistan is 23.1%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 26.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Pakistan peaked at 44.4% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 23.1%, in 2018.
Pakistan ranks 9th of 96 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 44.4% | — |
| 1991 | 38.4% | -13.5% |
| 1992 | 35.3% | -8.1% |
| 1995 | 34.2% | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 31.2% | -8.8% |
| 2011 | 31.4% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 31.8% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 23.1% | -27.4% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 23.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 2.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 23.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.8%, 6.1× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 44.4% | 44.4% | 44.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 36.0% | 34.2% | 38.4% | 3 |
| 2000s | 31.2% | 31.2% | 31.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 28.8% | 23.1% | 31.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 6 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 25.0% compare
- 7 Nigeria 24.4% compare
- 8 Lao People's Democratic Republic 24.3% compare
- 10 Madagascar 22.6% compare
- 11 Mauritania 22.4% compare
- 12 Bangladesh 21.7% compare
More health data for Pakistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.14 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8219 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 944.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 55,286 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 335 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5028 % 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 0.0616 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.4109 % 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 Pakistan?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Pakistan was 23.1% in 2018, 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 44.4% in 1986.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.1% in 2018.
- How does Pakistan rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Pakistan ranks 9th out of 96 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.