Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Yemen
Yemen: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 40.7% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Yemen, 1991–2022
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
Yemen recorded 40.7% for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in 2022.
That represents a change of up 28.8% on the previous year and up 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Yemen peaked at 45.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 29.9%, in 1991.
Yemen ranks 1st of 96 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Yemen, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 29.9% | — |
| 1996 | 34.2% | +14.4% |
| 1997 | 43.0% | +25.7% |
| 2003 | 45.3% | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 36.7% | -19.0% |
| 2011 | 35.5% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 39.9% | +12.4% |
| 2021 | 31.6% | -20.8% |
| 2022 | 40.7% | +28.8% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 40.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 16.9%, 2.4× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 40.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.8%, 10.7× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35.7% | 29.9% | 43.0% | 3 |
| 2000s | 41.0% | 36.7% | 45.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 37.7% | 35.5% | 39.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 36.2% | 31.6% | 40.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
More health data for Yemen
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 9,603 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 103 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.88 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0766 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Yemen?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Yemen was 40.7% in 2022, 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 Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 45.3% in 2003.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.9% in 1991.
- How does Yemen rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Yemen ranks 1st out of 96 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Yemen 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.