Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Vietnam
Vietnam: Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) was 9.7 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Weight-for-age <-2 SD in Vietnam, 1988–2023
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2023, weight-for-age <-2 sd in Vietnam stood at 9.7. That is the lowest value across all 27 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.9% on the previous year and down 36.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-age <-2 sd in Vietnam peaked at 40.7 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 9.7, in 2023.
Vietnam ranks 49th of 95 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.
Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Vietnam, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 40.7 | — |
| 1993 | 36.57 | -10.2% |
| 1994 | 40.6 | +11.0% |
| 1998 | 35.8 | -11.8% |
| 1999 | 31.09 | -13.2% |
| 2000 | 26.64 | -14.3% |
| 2002 | 23.34 | -12.4% |
| 2003 | 24.59 | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 23.61 | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 22.79 | -3.5% |
| 2006 | 21.88 | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 21.58 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 20.46 | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 17.5 | -14.5% |
| 2010 | 11.74 | -32.9% |
| 2011 | 16.8 | +43.1% |
| 2012 | 16.2 | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 15.3 | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 14.5 | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 14.1 | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 13.8 | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 13.4 | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 12.8 | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 12.2 | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 11.6 | -4.9% |
| 2022 | 10.2 | -12.1% |
| 2023 | 9.7 | -4.9% |
Vietnam compared with similar countries
- Vietnam's 9.7 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.09, 2.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Vietnam's 9.7 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.3, 63% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Vietnam 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +43.1% | 11.74 | 16.8 |
| 2010 | -32.9% | 17.5 | 11.74 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 40.7 | 40.7 | 40.7 | 1 |
| 1990s | 36.01 | 31.09 | 40.6 | 4 |
| 2000s | 22.49 | 17.5 | 26.64 | 9 |
| 2010s | 14.08 | 11.74 | 16.8 | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.5 | 9.7 | 11.6 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Vietnam
More health data for Vietnam
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0536 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,132 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 27 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.12 % 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 0.0322 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.33 % 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 0.0357 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is weight-for-age <-2 sd in Vietnam?
- Weight-for-age <-2 sd in Vietnam was 9.7 in 2023, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Vietnam?
- The highest recorded value was 40.7 in 1988.
- What is the lowest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Vietnam?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.7 in 2023.
- How does Vietnam rank for weight-for-age <-2 sd?
- Vietnam ranks 49th out of 95 countries with data for 2023.
- Is weight-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in Vietnam?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Vietnam 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 — 27 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).