Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Zambia
Zambia: Prevalence of underweight, weight for age was 11.8% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Zambia, 1992–2018
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
Zambia recorded 11.8% for prevalence of underweight, weight for age in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Zambia peaked at 23.2% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 11.8%, in 2018.
That places Zambia 40th out of 96 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 21.2% | — |
| 1996 | 19.6% | -7.5% |
| 1999 | 18.9% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 23.2% | +22.8% |
| 2007 | 14.9% | -35.8% |
| 2013 | 14.9% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 11.8% | -20.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 11.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6%, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 11.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.3%, 83% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.9% | 18.9% | 21.2% | 3 |
| 2000s | 19.1% | 14.9% | 23.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.4% | 11.8% | 14.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Zambia?
- Prevalence of underweight, weight for age in Zambia was 11.8% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.2% in 2002.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight, weight for age recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.8% in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for prevalence of underweight, weight for age?
- Zambia ranks 40th out of 96 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of underweight, weight for age rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.