Underweight children — all countries

Underweight children — South Asia

Underweight children in South Asia in 2024 — 25.3%. Since 1995, the indicator has fallen by 18 pp.

2024 25.3% −0.7 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 44.7%2000
Period minimum 25.3%2024

Trend over time

1995–2024 · % of children under 5

Underweight children — South Asia, 1995–20242530354045199519982001200420072010201320162019202220241995: 43.2%2000: 44.7%2001: 43.8%2002: 42.9%2003: 42%2004: 41.2%2005: 40.3%2006: 39.4%2007: 38.5%2008: 37.7%2009: 36.8%2010: 36%2011: 35.2%2012: 34.3%2013: 33.5%2014: 32.7%2015: 31.9%2016: 31.1%2017: 30.4%2018: 29.6%2019: 28.8%2020: 28.1%2021: 27.4%2022: 26.7%2023: 26%2024: 25.3%
Change over the period: −18 pp Annual average: -0.62 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Asia

South Asia 25.3%
World 12.2%
Underweight children — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 25.3 −0.7 pp
2023 26 −0.7 pp
2022 26.7 −0.7 pp
2021 27.4 −0.7 pp
2020 28.1 −0.7 pp
2019 28.8 −0.8 pp
2018 29.6 −0.8 pp
2017 30.4 −0.8 pp
2016 31.1 −0.8 pp
2015 31.9 −0.8 pp
2014 32.7 −0.8 pp
2013 33.5 −0.8 pp
2012 34.3 −0.8 pp
2011 35.2 −0.8 pp
2010 36 −0.8 pp
2009 36.8 −0.9 pp
2008 37.7 −0.9 pp
2007 38.5 −0.9 pp
2006 39.4 −0.9 pp
2005 40.3 −0.9 pp
2004 41.2 −0.9 pp
2003 42 −0.9 pp
2002 42.9 −0.9 pp
2001 43.8 −0.9 pp
2000 44.7
1995 43.2

About the indicator

The share of children under the age of five whose weight is more than two standard deviations below the median of the WHO growth standards. The indicator reflects a combination of chronic and acute undernutrition and remains one of the most accurate indicators of poverty: it depends little on the methodology of income accounting.

Source: Global Health Observatory (WHO), license CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.