Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Philippines
Philippines: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 16.7% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Philippines, 1987–2021
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Philippines is 16.7%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is down 11.6% on the previous year and down 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Philippines peaked at 29.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 16.7%, in 2021.
That places Philippines 24th out of 96 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Philippines, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 29.3% | — |
| 1990 | 29.9% | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 29.8% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 26.3% | -11.7% |
| 1998 | 28.3% | +7.6% |
| 2003 | 20.8% | -26.5% |
| 2008 | 20.6% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 20.2% | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 19.9% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 21.4% | +7.5% |
| 2018 | 19.0% | -11.2% |
| 2019 | 18.9% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 16.7% | -11.6% |
Philippines compared with similar countries
- Philippines's 16.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.0%, 4.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Philippines's 16.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.3%, 1.1× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 29.3% | 29.3% | 29.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 28.6% | 26.3% | 29.9% | 4 |
| 2000s | 20.7% | 20.6% | 20.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 19.9% | 18.9% | 21.4% | 5 |
| 2020s | 16.7% | 16.7% | 16.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Philippines
More health data for Philippines
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.5317 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,456 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 7,006 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.61 % 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 0.037 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.21 % 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 Philippines?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Philippines was 16.7% 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 Philippines?
- The highest recorded value was 29.9% in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Philippines?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.7% in 2021.
- How does Philippines rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Philippines ranks 24th out of 96 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Philippines?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Philippines 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.