Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Thailand
Thailand: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 6.7% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Thailand, 1987–2022
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
In 2022, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Thailand stood at 6.7%. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is down 13.0% on the previous year and down 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Thailand peaked at 17.2% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 2016.
That places Thailand 58th out of 96 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Thailand, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 17.2% | — |
| 1993 | 16.3% | -5.2% |
| 1995 | 15.4% | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 7.0% | -54.5% |
| 2012 | 9.2% | +31.4% |
| 2016 | 6.7% | -27.2% |
| 2019 | 7.7% | +14.9% |
| 2022 | 6.7% | -13.0% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 6.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.0%, 1.7× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 6.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.3%, 44% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17.2% | 17.2% | 17.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 15.9% | 15.4% | 16.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 7.9% | 6.7% | 9.2% | 3 |
| 2020s | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More health data for Thailand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.6 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0316 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,582 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 677 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.01 % 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 0.0201 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.97 % 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 Thailand?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Thailand was 6.7% in 2022, 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 17.2% in 1987.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 2016.
- How does Thailand rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Thailand ranks 58th out of 96 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Thailand 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.