Underweight Children - world statistics and charts as map, diagram and table
Percentage of underweight children under five in the countries of the world
| Rank (total) | Country | Total (percent) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yemen | 39.9 | 2013 |
| 2 | Eritrea | 39.4 | 2010 |
| 3 | East Timor | 37.5 | 2013 |
| 4 | India | 36.3 | 2015 |
| 5 | Sudan | 33.5 | 2014 |
| 6 | Madagascar | 32.9 | 2013 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 32.8 | 2014 |
| 8 | Nigeria | 31.5 | 2016 |
| 9 | Niger | 31.4 | 2016 |
| 10 | Djibouti | 29.9 | 2012 |
| 11 | Chad | 29.4 | 2015 |
| 12 | Burundi | 29.3 | 2016 |
| 13 | South Sudan | 29.1 | 2010 |
| 14 | Papua New Guinea | 27.8 | 2010 |
| 15 | Nepal | 27.2 | 2016 |
| 16 | Laos | 26.9 | 2011 |
| 17 | Afghanistan | 25.0 | 2013 |
| 17 | Mali | 25.0 | 2015 |
| 19 | Mauritania | 24.9 | 2015 |
| 20 | Central African Republic | 24.6 | 2012 |
| 21 | Cambodia | 24.1 | 2014 |
| 22 | Ethiopia | 23.6 | 2016 |
| 23 | Congo (Democratic Republic) | 23.4 | 2013 |
| 24 | Pakistan | 23.1 | 2018 |
| 25 | Somalia | 23.0 | 2009 |
| 26 | Philippines | 21.5 | 2015 |
| 27 | Sri Lanka | 20.5 | 2016 |
| 28 | Indonesia | 19.9 | 2013 |
| 29 | Angola | 19.0 | 2016 |
| 30 | Myanmar (Burma) | 18.5 | 2016 |
| 31 | Guinea | 18.3 | 2016 |
| 32 | Sierra Leone | 18.2 | 2013 |
| 33 | Maldives | 17.7 | 2009 |
| 34 | Guinea-Bissau | 17.0 | 2014 |
| 35 | Comoros | 16.9 | 2012 |
| 36 | Benin | 16.8 | 2018 |
| 37 | Gambia | 16.5 | 2013 |
| 38 | Burkina Faso | 16.2 | 2017 |
| 38 | Solomon Islands | 16.2 | 2015 |
| 40 | Togo | 16.1 | 2014 |
| 41 | Mozambique | 15.6 | 2011 |
| 42 | Liberia | 15.3 | 2013 |
| 43 | Kiribati | 14.9 | 2009 |
| 43 | Zambia | 14.9 | 2013 |
| 45 | Cameroon | 14.8 | 2014 |
| 46 | Senegal | 14.4 | 2017 |
| 47 | Vietnam | 14.1 | 2015 |
| 48 | Malaysia | 13.7 | 2016 |
| 48 | Tanzania | 13.7 | 2015 |
| 50 | Namibia | 13.2 | 2013 |
| 51 | Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | 12.8 | 2016 |
| 52 | Bhutan | 12.7 | 2010 |
| 53 | Guatemala | 12.4 | 2015 |
| 54 | Congo (Republic) | 12.3 | 2015 |
| 55 | Marshall Islands | 11.9 | 2017 |
| 56 | Malawi | 11.8 | 2015 |
| 57 | Ghana | 11.2 | 2014 |
| 57 | Kenya | 11.2 | 2014 |
| 59 | Vanuatu | 10.7 | 2013 |
| 60 | Lesotho | 10.5 | 2014 |
| 61 | Uganda | 10.4 | 2016 |
| 62 | Syria | 10.2 | 2009 |
| 63 | Oman | 9.7 | 2014 |
| 64 | Brunei | 9.6 | 2009 |
| 64 | Rwanda | 9.6 | 2015 |
| 66 | Haiti | 9.5 | 2017 |
| 67 | Korea (North) | 9.3 | 2017 |
| 68 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 8.8 | 2014 |
| 69 | Zimbabwe | 8.5 | 2015 |
| 70 | Guyana | 8.2 | 2014 |
| 71 | Tajikistan | 7.6 | 2017 |
| 72 | Iraq | 7.2 | 2011 |
| 73 | Honduras | 7.1 | 2012 |
| 74 | Egypt | 7.0 | 2014 |
| 75 | Thailand | 6.7 | 2016 |
| 76 | Gabon | 6.4 | 2012 |
| 76 | Suriname | 6.4 | 2010 |
| 78 | South Africa | 5.9 | 2016 |
| 79 | Eswatini | 5.8 | 2014 |
| 80 | Equatorial Guinea | 5.6 | 2011 |
| 81 | Ecuador | 5.1 | 2014 |
| 82 | El Salvador | 5.0 | 2014 |
| 83 | Azerbaijan | 4.9 | 2013 |
| 83 | Trinidad and Tobago | 4.9 | 2011 |
| 85 | Belize | 4.6 | 2015 |
| 85 | Nicaragua | 4.6 | 2012 |
| 87 | Mexico | 4.2 | 2016 |
| 88 | Iran | 4.1 | 2011 |
| 89 | Dominican Republic | 4.0 | 2013 |
| 89 | Uruguay | 4.0 | 2011 |
| 91 | Seychelles | 3.6 | 2012 |
| 92 | Barbados | 3.5 | 2012 |
| 93 | Bolivia | 3.4 | 2016 |
| 93 | Colombia | 3.4 | 2010 |
| 93 | Japan | 3.4 | 2010 |
| 96 | Peru | 3.2 | 2017 |
| 96 | Samoa | 3.2 | 2014 |
| 96 | Turkmenistan | 3.2 | 2015 |
| 99 | Algeria | 3.0 | 2012 |
| 99 | Jordan | 3.0 | 2012 |
| 99 | Kuwait | 3.0 | 2014 |
| 102 | Morocco | 2.9 | 2011 |
| 102 | Venezuela | 2.9 | 2009 |
| 104 | Kyrgyzstan | 2.8 | 2014 |
| 104 | Saint Lucia | 2.8 | 2012 |
| 104 | Tunisia | 2.8 | 2012 |
| 107 | Armenia | 2.6 | 2016 |
| 108 | China | 2.4 | 2013 |
| 109 | Turkey | 2.3 | 2013 |
| 110 | Jamaica | 2.2 | 2014 |
| 110 | Moldova | 2.2 | 2012 |
| 112 | Kazakhstan | 2.0 | 2015 |
| 113 | Tonga | 1.9 | 2012 |
| 114 | Serbia | 1.8 | 2014 |
| 115 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1.6 | 2012 |
| 116 | Albania | 1.5 | 2017 |
| 117 | Palestinian Territories | 1.4 | 2014 |
| 118 | North Macedonia | 1.3 | 2011 |
| 118 | Paraguay | 1.3 | 2016 |
| 120 | Georgia | 1.1 | 2009 |
| 121 | Montenegro | 1.0 | 2013 |
| 122 | Mongolia | 0.9 | 2016 |
| 123 | Korea (South) | 0.7 | 2010 |
| 124 | Chile | 0.5 | 2014 |
| 124 | United States of America | 0.5 | 2012 |
| World | ... |
No information is available for non-listed countries.
This page reports the percent of children under five considered to be underweight. Underweight means weight-for-age is approximately 2 kg below for standard at age one, 3 kg below standard for ages two and three, and 4 kg below standard for ages four and five. This statistic is an indicator of the nutritional status of a community. Children who suffer from growth retardation as a result of poor diets and/or recurrent infections tend to have a greater risk of suffering illness and death.
Source: CIA World Factbook (2020-05-03)