Share of children underweight in Zambia
Zambia: Share of children underweight was 11.8 in 2018. ▼ Falling
Latest (2018)
11.8
World rank
40th
of 96 countries
All-time high
23.2
in 2002
All-time low
11.8
in 2018
Years of data
7
1992–2018
Share of children underweight in Zambia, 1992–2018
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 11.8 for share of children underweight in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children underweight in Zambia peaked at 23.2 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 11.8, in 2018.
Zambia ranks 40th of 96 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of children underweight in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 21.2 | — |
| 1996 | 19.6 | -7.5% |
| 1999 | 18.9 | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 23.2 | +22.8% |
| 2007 | 14.9 | -35.8% |
| 2013 | 14.9 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 11.8 | -20.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 11.8 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.6, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 11.8 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.3, 83% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.9 | 18.9 | 21.2 | 3 |
| 2000s | 19.05 | 14.9 | 23.2 | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.35 | 11.8 | 14.9 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 (2026)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.0941 (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 (2026)
- Country level monthly temperature anomalies 0.3261 (2026)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Urban area long term, annual growth rate 3.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban area long term, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban area long term, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children underweight in Zambia?
- Share of children underweight in Zambia was 11.8 in 2018, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children underweight recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.2 in 2002.
- What is the lowest share of children underweight recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.8 in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for share of children underweight?
- Zambia ranks 40th out of 96 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of children underweight rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children underweight. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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