Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in SEAR
SEAR: Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) was 23.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in SEAR, 1990–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in SEAR is 23.8%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in SEAR peaked at 51.8% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 23.8%, in 2024.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in SEAR, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 51.8% | — |
| 1991 | 50.9% | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 50.0% | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 49.1% | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 48.2% | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 47.3% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 46.4% | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 45.5% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 44.6% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 43.7% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 42.8% | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 41.9% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 41.0% | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 40.1% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 39.3% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 38.4% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 37.6% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 36.7% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 35.9% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 35.0% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 34.2% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 33.4% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 32.6% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 31.8% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 31.0% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 30.2% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 29.5% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 28.7% | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 28.0% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 27.3% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 26.6% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 25.9% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 25.2% | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 24.5% | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 23.8% | -2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.8% | 43.7% | 51.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 38.9% | 35.0% | 42.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.7% | 27.3% | 34.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.2% | 23.8% | 26.6% | 5 |
More health data for SEAR
- Mortality rate among children ages 5 to 9 years 1.94 (2024)
- Population with primary reliance on polluting fuels and technologies 493.79 (2023)
- Proportion of population with primary reliance on fuels and 37.5% (2023)
- Population with primary reliance on fuels and technologies for 470.67 (2023)
- Prevalence of diabetes, crude 20.36 (2022)
- Measles-containing-vaccine first-dose (MCV1) immunization coverage 96.0% (2025)
- Diphtheria tetanus toxoid and pertussis first-dose (DTP1) 96.0% (2025)
- New HIV infections 0.1 (2025)
- BCG immunization coverage among 1-year-olds (%) 91.0% (2025)
- Mean HDL cholesterol, crude 1.1 (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in SEAR?
- Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in SEAR was 23.8% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in SEAR?
- The highest recorded value was 51.8% in 1990.
- What is the lowest underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in SEAR?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.8% in 2024.
- How does SEAR rank for underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%)?
- SEAR ranks 1st out of 13 groups with data for 2024.
- Is underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) rising or falling in SEAR?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this SEAR data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%), model-based estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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