Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in WPR

WPR: Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) was 3.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
3.1%
Change on year
down 3.1%
Rank
9th
of 13 groups
All-time high
15.9%
in 1990
All-time low
3.1%
in 2024
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in WPR, 1990–2024

510151990200720241990: 15.91991: 15.21992: 14.51993: 13.91994: 13.31995: 12.71996: 12.11997: 11.61998: 111999: 10.52000: 102001: 9.62002: 9.12003: 8.72004: 8.32005: 7.92006: 7.52007: 7.22008: 6.82009: 6.52010: 6.22011: 5.92012: 5.62013: 5.32014: 5.12015: 4.82016: 4.62017: 4.42018: 4.12019: 3.92020: 3.82021: 3.62022: 3.42023: 3.22024: 3.1

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

The most recent figure for underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in WPR is 3.1%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.

That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and down 39.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in WPR peaked at 15.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, 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 WPR, year by year

Annual values for Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%), model-based estimates in WPR, 1990 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1990 15.9%
1991 15.2% -4.4%
1992 14.5% -4.6%
1993 13.9% -4.1%
1994 13.3% -4.3%
1995 12.7% -4.5%
1996 12.1% -4.7%
1997 11.6% -4.1%
1998 11.0% -5.2%
1999 10.5% -4.5%
2000 10.0% -4.8%
2001 9.6% -4.0%
2002 9.1% -5.2%
2003 8.7% -4.4%
2004 8.3% -4.6%
2005 7.9% -4.8%
2006 7.5% -5.1%
2007 7.2% -4.0%
2008 6.8% -5.6%
2009 6.5% -4.4%
2010 6.2% -4.6%
2011 5.9% -4.8%
2012 5.6% -5.1%
2013 5.3% -5.4%
2014 5.1% -3.8%
2015 4.8% -5.9%
2016 4.6% -4.2%
2017 4.4% -4.3%
2018 4.1% -6.8%
2019 3.9% -4.9%
2020 3.8% -2.6%
2021 3.6% -5.3%
2022 3.4% -5.6%
2023 3.2% -5.9%
2024 3.1% -3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 13.1% 10.5% 15.9% 10
2000s 8.2% 6.5% 10.0% 10
2010s 5.0% 3.9% 6.2% 10
2020s 3.4% 3.1% 3.8% 5

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Frequently asked questions

What is underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in WPR?
Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in WPR was 3.1% 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 WPR?
The highest recorded value was 15.9% in 1990.
What is the lowest underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in WPR?
The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2024.
How does WPR rank for underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%)?
WPR ranks 9th out of 13 groups with data for 2024.
Is underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) rising or falling in WPR?
Over the last ten years it is down 39.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this WPR 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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Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in WPR. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/underweight-prevalence-among-children-under-5-years-of-age-percent-model-based-estimates/wpr/

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About this data

Indicator
Underweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%), model-based estimates
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
13 places, 455 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed