Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Senegal
Senegal: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 16.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Senegal, 1986–2023
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 Senegal is 16.2%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Senegal peaked at 20.4% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 12.8%, in 2014.
Senegal ranks 26th of 96 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Senegal, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 16.9% | — |
| 1991 | 20.4% | +20.7% |
| 1993 | 19.0% | -6.9% |
| 1996 | 18.5% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 17.8% | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 14.5% | -18.5% |
| 2011 | 18.4% | +26.9% |
| 2012 | 14.4% | -21.7% |
| 2013 | 14.8% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 12.8% | -13.5% |
| 2015 | 14.0% | +9.4% |
| 2016 | 13.8% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 14.4% | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 15.1% | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 14.4% | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 16.2% | +12.5% |
Senegal compared with similar countries
- Senegal's 16.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 1.4× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Senegal's 16.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16.9% | 16.9% | 16.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 19.3% | 18.5% | 20.4% | 3 |
| 2000s | 16.1% | 14.5% | 17.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.7% | 12.8% | 18.4% | 9 |
| 2020s | 16.2% | 16.2% | 16.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Senegal
- 23 Burkina Faso 16.9% compare
- 24 Philippines 16.7% compare
- 25 Cambodia 16.3% compare
- 27 Indonesia 15.9% compare
- 28 Mozambique 15.4% compare
- 29 Malaysia 15.3% compare
More health data for Senegal
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.58 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7598 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 835.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,496 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 2.42 % 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 0.0658 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.29 % 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 Senegal?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Senegal was 16.2% in 2023, 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 Senegal?
- The highest recorded value was 20.4% in 1991.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Senegal?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.8% in 2014.
- How does Senegal rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Senegal ranks 26th out of 96 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Senegal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Senegal 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.