Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) was 31 % in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Southern Africa, 2000–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Southern Africa stood at 31 %.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Southern Africa peaked at 32.7 % in 2000 and was at its lowest, 26 %, in 2012.
That places Southern Africa 15th out of 37 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 32.7 % | — |
| 2001 | 32 % | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 31.4 % | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 30.7 % | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 30.1 % | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 29.4 % | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 28.7 % | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 28 % | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 27.4 % | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 26.8 % | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 26.4 % | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 26.1 % | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 26 % | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 26.1 % | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 26.3 % | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 26.5 % | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 26.9 % | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 27.3 % | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 27.7 % | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 28.2 % | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 28.7 % | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 29.4 % | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 30.1 % | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 31 % | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.72 % | 26.8 % | 32.7 % | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.75 % | 26 % | 28.2 % | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.8 % | 28.7 % | 31 % | 4 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
- 12 Gambia 46.1 % compare
- 12 Republic of Moldova 28.5 % compare
- 13 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 27.5 % compare
- 13 Haiti 45.9 % compare
- 14 Guinea 45.7 % compare
- 14 Guinea-Bissau 45.7 % compare
- 14 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 25.5 % compare
- 15 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 25.2 % compare
- 16 Afghanistan 45.4 % compare
- 16 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 24.9 % compare
- 17 Sierra Leone 44.6 % compare
- 17 Micronesia 24.5 % compare
- 18 Burkina Faso 44.3 % compare
- 18 Micronesia (Federated States of) 22.1 % compare
- 18 Caribbean 29.1 % compare
More agriculture & rural data for Southern Africa
- Cattle and Buffaloes — Stocks, annual growth rate -2.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Eggs Primary — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth rate -9.64 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Production, annual growth rate 1.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Yield, annual growth rate 1.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Area harvested, annual growth rate -0.2717 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Production, annual growth rate -19.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Yield, annual growth rate -18.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Area harvested, annual growth rate -1.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep — Stocks, annual growth rate -1.34 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep fat, unrendered — Production, annual growth rate 7.96 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Southern Africa?
- Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Southern Africa was 31 % in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 32.7 % in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 26 % in 2012.
- How does Southern Africa rank for prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years)?
- Southern Africa ranks 15th out of 37 groups with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) (percent) — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Suite of Food Security Indicators presents the core set of food security indicators. Following the recommendation of experts gathered in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Round Table on hunger measurement, hosted at FAO headquarters in September 2011, an initial set of indicators aiming to capture various aspects of food insecurity is presented here. The choice of the indicators has been informed by expert judgement and the availability of data with sufficient coverage to enable comparisons across regions and over time. Many of these indicators are produced and published elsewhere by FAO and other international organizations. They are reported here in a single database with the aim of building a wide food security information system. More indicators will be added to this set as more data will become available. Indicators are classified along the four dimensions of food security -- availability, access, utilization and stability.