Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 12.0% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Sierra Leone, 1989–2021
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
Sierra Leone recorded 12.0% for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 11.1% on the previous year and down 35.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Sierra Leone peaked at 27.2% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 2021.
Sierra Leone ranks 38th of 96 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 23.7% | — |
| 1990 | 25.4% | +7.2% |
| 2000 | 23.4% | -7.9% |
| 2005 | 27.2% | +16.2% |
| 2010 | 18.5% | -32.0% |
| 2014 | 13.0% | -29.7% |
| 2017 | 15.6% | +20.0% |
| 2019 | 13.5% | -13.5% |
| 2021 | 12.0% | -11.1% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 12.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 16.9%, 71% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 12.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.3%, 84% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 23.7% | 23.7% | 23.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 25.4% | 25.4% | 25.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 25.3% | 23.4% | 27.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 15.2% | 13.0% | 18.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,199 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,209 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % 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 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % 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 Sierra Leone?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Sierra Leone was 12.0% 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 27.2% in 2005.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 2021.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Sierra Leone ranks 38th out of 96 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.