Sustainable elimination of iodine deficiency disorders by 2005.

Progress to date

A massive worldwide effort dramatically raised the proportion of people consuming iodized salt, from less than 20 per cent in the early 1990s to more than two thirds (69 per cent) by 2000. This means that about 85 million newborns are now being protected from learning disabilities caused by iodine deficiency disorders every year. If the reduction in intellectual impairment caused by iodine deficiency is taken into account, salt iodization might even be considered one of the most successful public health achievements of the late twentieth century. The World Bank has estimated that each dollar dedicated to prevention of iodine deficiency disorders yields a productivity gain of $28, supporting the widely held view that elimination of iodine deficiency is also one of the world’s most cost-effective programme interventions.

Striking improvements in the use of iodized salt
Percentage of households consuming adequately iodized salt, selected countries (around 1995 and around 2005)

Towards universal salt iodization: 34 countries have reached the target
Percentage of households consuming adequately iodized salt (2000–2007)

As of 2007, 34 developing countries had reached the universal salt iodization target and 120 developing countries had salt iodization programmes, compared with 90 countries in 2000. Twenty countries increased their proportion of household consumption of iodized salt by 20 percentage points or more and maintained a level of 70 per cent or higher.

There are large disparities in adequately iodized salt consumption among regions of the developing world. The highest levels are found in Latin America and the Caribbean and East Asia and the Pacific, while the lowest levels are in CEE/CIS. In sub-Saharan Africa almost two thirds of households consume adequately iodized salt.

Latin America/Caribbean and East Asia/Pacific are near the target on universal salt iodization
Percentage of households consuming adequately iodized salt, by region (2000–2007)

Yet there are still 38 countries in which less than half of all households consume adequately iodized salt. Some 37 million newborns are born every year unprotected from iodine deficiency and its lifelong consequences. To achieve universal salt iodization, even faster progress is needed.