Progress varies by region
Stunting
In 2011, an estimated 26 per cent of children under five years of age were stunted globally, or 165 million children, which represents a 36 per cent decrease from an estimated 40 per cent, or 253 million children, in 1990. East Asia and Pacific observed the largest drop in stunting prevalence between 1990 and 2011, from 42 per cent to 12 per cent respectively, or an estimated 80 million to 17 million in the same time period.
Most regions saw a decrease in stunting prevalence; however 1 in 4 children remain stunted globally
Note: The trend analysis based on a multilevel modelling method described here. To see detailed country-level data and fitted regional trend lines, click here. Prevalence estimates are calculated according to the WHO Child Growth Standards. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals of the estimated regional prevalence.Source: United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, The World Bank, UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates, 2011 revision (completed July 2012).
Underweight
The first Millennium Development Goal (MDG1) aims to halve child underweight prevalence between 1990 and 2015. It is estimated that three regions – East Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean and Central and Eastern Europe/Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS) – have already reached the MDG target of halving the child underweight prevalence.
Globally, an estimated 16 per cent of children under five years of age were underweight in 2011, or 101 million children, a decline of 37 per cent from an estimated 25 per cent, or 159 million children, in 1990. In South Asia, underweight prevalence declined from 52 to 33 per cent between 1990 and 2011, progress made largely due to estimated declines in China.
All regions have made progress in reducing underweight prevalence
Proportion of under-five children who are underweight (%), 1990 and 2011
Source: United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, The World Bank, UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates, 2011 revision (completed July 2012).
Wasting
In 2011, an estimated 52 million children under five years of age worldwide were wasted, only a 6 million (10 per cent) decrease from 1990.
Limited progress has been observed with nearly 1 in 10 children remain wasted
Proportion of under-five children who are wasted (%), 1990 and 2011
Source: United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, The World Bank, UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates, 2011 revision (completed July 2012).
Overweight
In 2011, an estimated 43 million children under five years of age worldwide were overweight, a 54 per cent increase from an estimated 28 million in 1990.
Increasing trends in child overweight prevalence affect all world regions, not only developed countries
Proportion of under-five children who are overweight (%), 1990 and 2011
Source: United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, The World Bank, UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates, 2011 revision (completed July 2012).
Disparity in trends
Progress in reducing underweight prevalence is often unequal between the rich and the poor. In India, for example, there was no significant improvement among children in the poorest households, while underweight prevalence in the richest 20 per cent of households decreased by about a third between 1990 and 2008. Undernutrition is the result of a combination of factors: lack of food in terms of quantity and quality; inadequate water, sanitation and health services; and suboptimal care and feeding practices. Until improvements are made in these three aspects of nutrition, progress will be limited.
In India, a greater reduction in underweight prevalence occurred in the richest 20 per cent of households than in the poorest 20 per cent
Percentage of children 0–59 months old who are underweight in India, by household wealth quintile
Source: National Family Health Surveys, 1992–1993, 1998–1999 and 2005–2006.