Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in Zambia
Zambia: Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard was 3.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in Zambia, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in Zambia is 3.3%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in Zambia peaked at 7.0% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 2024.
That places Zambia 107th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.
Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 7.0% | — |
| 1981 | 6.9% | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 6.8% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 6.7% | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 6.6% | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 6.5% | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 6.4% | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 6.3% | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 6.2% | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 6.1% | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 6.0% | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 5.9% | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 5.9% | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 5.8% | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 5.7% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 5.6% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 5.5% | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 5.4% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 5.3% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 5.2% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 5.1% | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 4.9% | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 4.8% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 4.7% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 4.6% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 4.5% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 4.4% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 4.3% | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 4.2% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 4.0% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 3.9% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 3.8% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 3.8% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 3.6% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 3.6% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 3.5% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 3.4% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 3.4% | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 3.3% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 3.3% | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.6% | 6.1% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.6% | 5.2% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 4.2% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 104 Bulgaria 3.3% compare
- 105 Luxembourg 3.3% compare
- 106 Bahamas 3.3% compare
- 108 United Arab Emirates 3.3% compare
- 109 Albania 3.2% compare
- 110 Saint Kitts and Nevis 3.2% compare
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)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 5.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0018 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 4.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0011 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in Zambia?
- Thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in Zambia was 3.3% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.0% in 1980.
- What is the lowest thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard?
- Zambia ranks 107th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard deviations below the median (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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