Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 0.6% in 2019. ▬ Flat
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in United Kingdom, 2007–2019
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
United Kingdom recorded 0.6% for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in United Kingdom peaked at 0.7% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2011.
That places United Kingdom 93rd out of 96 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 0.7% | — |
| 2008 | 0.6% | -14.3% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | -83.3% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | +500.0% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.6% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | -16.7% |
| 2018 | 0.6% | +20.0% |
| 2019 | 0.6% | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.8%, 21% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.6%, 23% of the median. (9 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.6% | 10 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 91 Tunisia 1.6% compare
- 92 Turkey 1.5% compare
- 94 Chile 0.5% compare
- 95 South Korea 0.4% compare
- 95 United States 0.4% compare
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % 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 United Kingdom?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in United Kingdom was 0.6% in 2019, 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 0.7% in 2007.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2011.
- How does United Kingdom rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- United Kingdom ranks 93rd out of 96 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.