Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) was 17.1 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Weight-for-age <-2 SD in Sri Lanka, 1987–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for weight-for-age <-2 sd in Sri Lanka is 17.1, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 34.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-age <-2 sd in Sri Lanka peaked at 29.49 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 12.2, in 2021.
That places Sri Lanka 22nd out of 95 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 29.49 | — |
| 1993 | 29.1 | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 29.3 | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 22.88 | -21.9% |
| 2007 | 22.07 | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 21.6 | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 26.1 | +20.8% |
| 2016 | 20.49 | -21.5% |
| 2019 | 14 | -31.7% |
| 2020 | 13.1 | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 12.2 | -6.9% |
| 2022 | 21.9 | +79.5% |
| 2023 | 17.1 | -21.9% |
| 2024 | 17.1 | +0.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 17.1 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.09, 4.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 17.1 is below the median for South Asia, which is 17.72, 96% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +79.5% | 12.2 | 21.9 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 29.49 | 29.49 | 29.49 | 1 |
| 1990s | 29.2 | 29.1 | 29.3 | 2 |
| 2000s | 22.18 | 21.6 | 22.88 | 3 |
| 2010s | 20.2 | 14 | 26.1 | 3 |
| 2020s | 16.28 | 12.2 | 21.9 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More health data for Sri Lanka
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7332 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 304 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.13 % 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 0.0339 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.12 % 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 0.0353 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is weight-for-age <-2 sd in Sri Lanka?
- Weight-for-age <-2 sd in Sri Lanka was 17.1 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 29.49 in 1987.
- What is the lowest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2 in 2021.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for weight-for-age <-2 sd?
- Sri Lanka ranks 22nd out of 95 countries with data for 2024.
- Is weight-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 — 14 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).