Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 3.5% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Saudi Arabia, 1994–2020
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
Saudi Arabia recorded 3.5% for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.5% on the previous year and down 38.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Saudi Arabia peaked at 13.5% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 2018.
That places Saudi Arabia 70th out of 96 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 13.5% | — |
| 2004 | 5.3% | -60.7% |
| 2015 | 5.7% | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 4.6% | -19.3% |
| 2017 | 6.2% | +34.8% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | -46.8% |
| 2019 | 4.0% | +21.2% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | -12.5% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 3.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.8%, 1.2× the median. (11 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 3.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.8%, 92% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.5% | 13.5% | 13.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 4.8% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 5 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 483.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 5.31 % 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 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 5.38 % 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Saudi Arabia was 3.5% in 2020, 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 13.5% in 1994.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 2018.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 70th out of 96 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.