Share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty in Iran
Iran: Share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty was 4.3% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty in Iran, 1995–2017
Source: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME) - UNICEF, WHO, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children under 5.
Analysis
Iran recorded 4.3% for share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty in 2017.
The figure is down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty in Iran peaked at 13.8% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 2010.
Iran ranks 65th of 96 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 13.8% | — |
| 1998 | 9.5% | -31.2% |
| 2004 | 4.6% | -51.6% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | -10.9% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | +4.9% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 4.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.0%, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Iran's 4.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.8%, 1.1× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.7% | 9.5% | 13.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More poverty & inequality data for Iran
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 8 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.7 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 2,420 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 4.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via -11.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gender Inequality Index 0.482 (2023)
- Share of government consumption in GDP vs. share of population living in extreme poverty 29.4% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty in Iran?
- Share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty in Iran was 4.3% in 2017, according to Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME) - UNICEF, WHO, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 13.8% in 1995.
- What is the lowest share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 2010.
- How does Iran rank for share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty?
- Iran ranks 65th out of 96 countries with data for 2017.
- Is share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME) - UNICEF, WHO, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Underweight children are those less than 5 years old, whose weight for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population. Extreme poverty is defined as living below the International Poverty Line of $3 per day.