Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in India
India: Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) was 31.47 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
31.47
Change on year
down 6.9%
World rank
4th
of 95 countries
All-time high
55.5
in 1989
All-time low
29.4
in 2014
Years of data
10
1989–2020
Weight-for-age <-2 SD in India, 1989–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
India recorded 31.47 for weight-for-age <-2 sd in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.9% on the previous year and down 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-age <-2 sd in India peaked at 55.5 in 1989 and was at its lowest, 29.4, in 2014.
India ranks 4th of 95 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 55.5 | — |
| 1991 | 52.8 | -4.9% |
| 1992 | 51.3 | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 38.4 | -25.1% |
| 1999 | 45.4 | +18.2% |
| 2006 | 43.5 | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 29.4 | -32.4% |
| 2015 | 36.27 | +23.4% |
| 2017 | 33.81 | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 31.47 | -6.9% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 31.47 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.82, 2.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- India's 31.47 is above the median for South Asia, which is 17.72, 1.8× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 55.5 | 55.5 | 55.5 | 1 |
| 1990s | 46.97 | 38.4 | 52.8 | 4 |
| 2000s | 43.5 | 43.5 | 43.5 | 1 |
| 2010s | 33.16 | 29.4 | 36.27 | 3 |
| 2020s | 31.47 | 31.47 | 31.47 | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 44,822 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.04 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is weight-for-age <-2 sd in India?
- Weight-for-age <-2 sd in India was 31.47 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 55.5 in 1989.
- What is the lowest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.4 in 2014.
- How does India rank for weight-for-age <-2 sd?
- India ranks 4th out of 95 countries with data for 2020.
- Is weight-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).