Share of children who have anemia in South Korea

South Korea: Share of children who have anemia was 15.0% in 2019. ▬ Flat

Latest (2019)
15.0%
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
164th
of 190 countries
All-time high
15.0%
in 2019
All-time low
13.8%
in 2009
Years of data
20
2000–2019

Share of children who have anemia in South Korea, 2000–2019

0510152000200920192000: 14.7 % of children under 52001: 14.6 % of children under 52002: 14.5 % of children under 52003: 14.5 % of children under 52004: 14.4 % of children under 52005: 14.3 % of children under 52006: 14.2 % of children under 52007: 14.1 % of children under 52008: 13.9 % of children under 52009: 13.8 % of children under 52010: 13.8 % of children under 52011: 13.8 % of children under 52012: 13.8 % of children under 52013: 13.9 % of children under 52014: 13.9 % of children under 52015: 14.1 % of children under 52016: 14.2 % of children under 52017: 14.4 % of children under 52018: 14.7 % of children under 52019: 15 % of children under 5

Source: Global Health Observatory / World Health Statistics - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children under 5.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of children who have anemia in South Korea is 15.0%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.

The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 8.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of children who have anemia in South Korea peaked at 15.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 13.8%, in 2009.

South Korea ranks 164th of 190 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Share of children who have anemia in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for Share of children who have anemia in South Korea, 2000 to 2019.
Year % of children under 5 Change
2000 14.7% —
2001 14.6% -0.7%
2002 14.5% -0.7%
2003 14.5% +0.0%
2004 14.4% -0.7%
2005 14.3% -0.7%
2006 14.2% -0.7%
2007 14.1% -0.7%
2008 13.9% -1.4%
2009 13.8% -0.7%
2010 13.8% +0.0%
2011 13.8% +0.0%
2012 13.8% +0.0%
2013 13.9% +0.7%
2014 13.9% +0.0%
2015 14.1% +1.4%
2016 14.2% +0.7%
2017 14.4% +1.4%
2018 14.7% +2.1%
2019 15.0% +2.0%

South Korea compared with similar countries

  • South Korea's 15.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 17.3%, 87% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
  • South Korea's 15.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.8%, 44% of the median. (30 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 14.3% 13.8% 14.7% 10
2010s 14.2% 13.8% 15.0% 10

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 162 New Zealand 15.3% compare
  2. 163 Germany 15.1% compare
  3. 165 Italy 14.9% compare
  4. 166 France 14.7% compare
  5. 166 Montenegro 14.7% compare

See the full ranking of 190 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of children who have anemia in South Korea?
Share of children who have anemia in South Korea was 15.0% in 2019, according to Global Health Observatory / World Health Statistics - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of children who have anemia recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 15.0% in 2019.
What is the lowest share of children who have anemia recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 13.8% in 2009.
How does South Korea rank for share of children who have anemia?
South Korea ranks 164th out of 190 countries with data for 2019.
Is share of children who have anemia rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from Global Health Observatory / World Health Statistics - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children who have anemia. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of children who have anemia in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Global Health Observatory / World Health Statistics - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-anemia-in-children/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of children who have anemia
Unit
% of children under 5
Source
Global Health Observatory / World Health Statistics - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
190 places, 3,800 data points, 2000–2019
Last refreshed

Share of children under the age of five with anemia. Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin.