Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in World
World: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 12.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in World, 2000–2024
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 World is 12.2%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in World peaked at 20.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.2%, in 2024.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in World, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 20.9% | — |
| 2001 | 20.5% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 20.1% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 19.7% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 19.3% | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 18.9% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 18.4% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 17.9% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 17.4% | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 16.9% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 16.4% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 16.0% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 15.6% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 15.2% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 14.8% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 14.3% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 14.0% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 13.6% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 13.3% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 13.1% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 12.8% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 12.7% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 12.5% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 12.4% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 12.2% | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.0% | 16.9% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.6% | 13.1% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.5% | 12.2% | 12.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near World
- 4 India 31.5% compare
- 5 Burundi 28.3% compare
- 6 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 25.0% compare
- 7 Nigeria 24.4% compare
- 8 Lao People's Democratic Republic 24.3% compare
- 9 Pakistan 23.1% compare
- 10 Madagascar 22.6% compare
More health data for World
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2,458 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.47 % 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 0.0381 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6031 % 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 0.0401 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, annual growth rate -0.915 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per capita 0.04 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight, weight for age in World?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in World was 12.2% in 2024, 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 World?
- The highest recorded value was 20.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2% in 2024.
- How does World rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- World ranks 7th out of 14 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this World 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.