Current status

Underweight

There are an estimated 129 million underweight children in the developing world today, which translates into 23 per cent of children in developing countries; 10 per cent of the children in the developing world are severely underweight.

Underweight prevalence varies worldwide but is particularly high in South Asia
Percentage of under-five children who are underweight (moderate and severe)

Note: Estimates are calculated according to the WHO Child Growth Standards, except in cases where data are only available according to the previously used NCHS reference population.
Source: MICS, DHS and other national surveys, 2003-2008

The high prevalence of underweight in South Asia stands out in comparison to other regions of the world. Latin America and the Caribbean has the lowest rate, which at 4 per cent is only a small fraction of underweight prevalence in most other regions.   

More than 4 in 10 children are underweight in South Asia
Percentage of children under five years old suffering from underweight (moderate and severe)

Note: Estimates are calculated according to WHO Child Growth Standards. CEE/CIS regional average is not available due to lack of data.
Source: MICS, DHS and other national surveys, 2003-2008

Stunting

In the developing world, approximately 195 million children under 5 years old are stunted. Nearly half of these children live in South Asia. Due to the high prevalence of stunting in combination with a large population, India alone has an estimated 61 million stunted children, which accounts for more than 3 out of every 10 stunted children in the developing countries.

195 million children in the developing world are stunted
Number of under-five children who are stunted (moderate and severe) in the developing world (in millions)

Stunting is a widespread problem affecting approximately one third of children in the developing world. Africa and Asia have particularly high rates: 40 per cent and 36 per cent, respectively. This indicates an urgent need to accelerate integrated programmes addressing nutrition during the mother’s pregnancy and before the child reaches 2 years of age, the period of children’s most rapid physical and mental growth and development.

One third of children in developing world are stunted
Percentage of children under five years old suffering from stunting (moderate and severe)

Wasting

Children who suffer from wasting face a markedly increased risk of death. A number of African and Asian countries have wasting rates that exceed 15 per cent, with one region, South Asia, having an average rate of 19 per cent.

Urgent action required -- In three regions, wasting prevalence is at least 10 percent
Percentage of children under five who are wasted (moderate and severe)

Note: Estimates are calculated according to WHO Child Growth Standards. East Asia and Pacific and CEE/CIS regional averages are not available due to lack of data.
Source: MICS, DHS and other national surveys, 2003-2008

Disparities

Children in rural areas are more likely to be underweight than their urban peers while little difference exists between boys and girls
Percentage of underweight (moderate and severe) children under five in developing countries, by gender and residence

Note: Estimates are calculated according to the WHO Child Growth Standards
Source: MICS, DHS and other national surveys, 2003 - 2008

Rich and poor: On average, poor children are more than twice as likely to be underweight as rich children

Note: Estimates are based on a subset of 64 developing countries where prevalence estimates with household wealth information are available. Estimates are calculated according to the NCHS/WHO reference population.
Source: MICS, DHS and other national surveys, 2003 - 2008

References

Part of this section is adapted from Tracking progress on child and maternal nutrition – a survival and development priority, UNICEF, November 2009.