Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 31.9% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Timor-Leste, 2002–2020
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
In 2020, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Timor-Leste stood at 31.9%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 29.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Timor-Leste peaked at 49.5% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 31.9%, in 2020.
That places Timor-Leste 3rd out of 96 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Timor-Leste, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 40.6% | — |
| 2003 | 41.5% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 49.5% | +19.3% |
| 2009 | 44.9% | -9.3% |
| 2013 | 37.5% | -16.5% |
| 2014 | 32.4% | -13.6% |
| 2020 | 31.9% | -1.5% |
Timor-Leste compared with similar countries
- Timor-Leste's 31.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 2.7× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Timor-Leste's 31.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.3%, 2.1× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 44.1% | 40.6% | 49.5% | 4 |
| 2010s | 35.0% | 32.4% | 37.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 31.9% | 31.9% | 31.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Timor-Leste
More health data for Timor-Leste
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.22 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.894 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,287 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 162 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.67 % 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 0.051 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.04 % 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 Timor-Leste?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Timor-Leste was 31.9% 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 Timor-Leste?
- The highest recorded value was 49.5% in 2007.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Timor-Leste?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.9% in 2020.
- How does Timor-Leste rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Timor-Leste ranks 3rd out of 96 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Timor-Leste?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Timor-Leste 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.