Key Facts
Childhood Malnutrition by Developing Region/Country
- Despite the remarkable improvement in child nutritional status achieved in South Asia, the region still has the highest prevalence of underweight children in the world. (IFPRI, The Poorest and Hungry: Looking Below the Line, 2007)
- Prevalence of underweight children under five years of age in India decreased from 63.9 percent between 1988-1992 to 46.6 percent between 2000-2005. Under-five child mortality in the country fell from 12.3 percent in 1990 to 8.5 percent in 2004. (WHO 2006 and India National Family Health Survey 2005/06; see IFPRI, German Agro-Action, Concern Worldwide, The Challenge of Hunger 2007)
- Child malnutrition remains a problem in China, despite the rapid decline in the prevalence of underweight and stunting since the early 1990s. One-fifth of children in rural areas are still stunted, indicating diets low in quality and key nutrients. (IFPRI, Child Malnutrition in India and China, 2007)
- Nutritional deficiencies affecting young children's development potential remain prevalent in Latin America and the Caribbean, most notably in the rural areas of Central America and the Andean region. (IFPRI, Facing up to Inequality and Exclusion to End Poverty and Hunger in Latin America, 2007)
- In Guatemala, prevalence of underweight children under five years of age decreased from 25 percent between 1988-1992 to 21.9 percent between 2000-2005. Under-five child mortality in the country fell from 8.2 percent in 1990 to 4.5 percent in 2004. (WHO 2006; see IFPRI, German Agro-Action, Concern Worldwide, The Challenge of Hunger 2007)
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, underweight children and under-five mortality rates have improved very little between 1992 and 2003. During this period, the prevalence of underweight children in the region fell from 29.9 percent to 29.2 percent, and the under-five mortality rate decreased from 17.8 percent to 16.9 percent. (WHO 2006; see IFPRI, German Agro-Action, Concern Worldwide, The Challenge of Hunger 2007)