Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Tunisia
Tunisia: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 1.6% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Tunisia, 1988–2018
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 Tunisia is 1.6%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of down 51.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Tunisia peaked at 8.5% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2018.
Tunisia ranks 91st of 96 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Tunisia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 8.5% | — |
| 1997 | 3.3% | -61.2% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 3.3% | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 2.3% | -30.3% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | -30.4% |
Tunisia compared with similar countries
- Tunisia's 1.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 14% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Tunisia's 1.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.8%, 42% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.5% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Tunisia
More health data for Tunisia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.68 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2883 % 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 1 117 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -3.64 % 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 0.033 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -3.77 % 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 Tunisia?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Tunisia was 1.6% in 2018, 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 Tunisia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5% in 1988.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Tunisia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2018.
- How does Tunisia rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Tunisia ranks 91st out of 96 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Tunisia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tunisia 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.