Definition: This entry gives 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.
Description: The map displayed here shows how Children under the age of 5 years underweight varies by country. The shade of the country corresponds to the magnitude of the indicator. The darker the shade, the higher the value.
Source: CIA World Factbook - Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of January 1, 2020
Country | Children under the age of 5 years underweight (%) | Year |
---|---|---|
Eritrea | 39 | 2010 |
Sudan | 33 | 2014 |
Djibouti | 30 | 2012 |
Chad | 29 | 2015 |
Madagascar | 26 | 2018 |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 23 | 2013 |
Somalia | 23 | 2009 |
Niger | 22 | 2018 |
Nigeria | 22 | 2018 |
Ethiopia | 21 | 2019 |
Central African Republic | 21 | 2018 |
Mauritania | 19 | 2018 |
Angola | 19 | 2016 |
Mali | 19 | 2018 |
Burkina Faso | 18 | 2018 |
Guinea-Bissau | 17 | 2014 |
Comoros | 17 | 2012 |
Benin | 17 | 2018 |
Guinea | 16 | 2018 |
Togo | 15 | 2017 |
Tanzania | 15 | 2018 |
Sierra Leone | 14 | 2019 |
Liberia | 14 | 2016 |
Senegal | 13 | 2019 |
Namibia | 13 | 2013 |
Congo, Republic of the | 12 | 2015 |
Malawi | 12 | 2018 |
Libya | 12 | 2014 |
Kenya | 11 | 2014 |
Cameroon | 11 | 2018 |
Lesotho | 11 | 2018 |
Uganda | 10 | 2016 |
Gambia, The | 10 | 2018 |
Zimbabwe | 10 | 2019 |
Rwanda | 10 | 2015 |
Sao Tome and Principe | 9 | 2014 |
Egypt | 7 | 2014 |
Gabon | 6 | 2012 |
South Africa | 6 | 2016 |
Swaziland | 6 | 2014 |
Equatorial Guinea | 6 | 2011 |
Seychelles | 4 | 2012 |
Algeria | 3 | 2012 |
Tunisia | 2 | 2018 |