Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) in East Timor
East Timor: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) was 31.9% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in East Timor, 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 East Timor 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 East Timor peaked at 49.5% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 31.9%, in 2020.
That places East Timor 3rd out of 96 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) in East Timor, 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% |
East Timor compared with similar countries
- East Timor's 31.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 2.7× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- East Timor'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 East Timor
More health data for East Timor
- 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 162 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0538 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight, weight for age in East Timor?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in East Timor 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 East Timor?
- The highest recorded value was 49.5% in 2007.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in East Timor?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.9% in 2020.
- How does East Timor rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- East Timor ranks 3rd out of 96 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in East Timor?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this East Timor 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.