Country Nutrition Profiles methodology
Read more about the methodology behind our Country Nutrition Profiles.
Introduction
The Global Nutrition Report’s Country Nutrition Profiles capture the state of nutrition and progress towards the global nutrition targets at the country, regional and global level. They bring together the latest data on child and adult diet and burden of malnutrition, as well as nutrition strategies and financing and social determinants of nutrition. They help key stakeholders inform and implement evidence-based nutrition policies by offering them in-depth insights into the status of malnutrition in countries around the globe and allowing them to make comparisons at the subregional, regional and global level.
Data for the Country Nutrition Profiles comes from both publicly available and private sources. These include the Global Burden of Disease, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Where publicly available, there are links to the source data recorded in Section 1 of the Appendix. Where privately sourced, this is also noted in Section 1 of the Appendix.
Assessing progress against the global nutrition targets
The Country Nutrition Profiles track global, regional and country progress against the global nutrition targets using the latest data. The methodologies for tracking progress differ across targets. These are split into: 1) maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) and 2) diet-related non-communicable disease (NCD) targets.
Maternal, infant and young child nutrition targets
Prevalence estimates are used alongside information about rates of change to assess whether a country is ‘on course’ or ‘off course’ to meet each target on maternal, infant and young child nutrition. This is when the global target is applied at the national level, assuming the same relative reduction in all countries.[1]
Anaemia modelled estimates are produced by WHO;[2] estimates of low birth weight are produced by UNICEF and WHO;[3] and estimates of exclusive breastfeeding are produced by UNICEF.[4] National prevalence estimates on child malnutrition are reported in the annual Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates produced by UNICEF, WHO and the World Bank.[5]
The rules to determine which countries are on or off course are established with extensive technical input from WHO and UNICEF. The Global Nutrition Report employs the monitoring rules and classification of progress towards achieving the six nutrition targets proposed by the WHO/UNICEF Technical Expert Advisory Group on Nutrition Monitoring (TEAM). The methodology and rules to track maternal, infant and young child nutrition targets were revised in 2017 by WHO and UNICEF to improve the quality of nutrition target monitoring.[6]
A metric called the average annual rate of reduction (AARR) is used to describe and assess progress against each target. There are two types of AARR: the required AARR represents the value needed for a country to achieve the global target from the baseline year to 2025; the current AARR reflects a country’s actual achievement based on the available data between the baseline year and the most recent year. The current prevalence, required AARR and current AARR are used to determine whether the country under assessment is on or off track for each indicator (Table 1). The AARRs for maternal, infant and young child nutrition targets are computed by WHO and UNICEF and supplied to the GNR.
In addition to those listed in Table 1A and 1B, there are additional criteria for assessment and additional considerations.
- Stunting, wasting, overweight and exclusive breastfeeding: countries require at least two nationally representative survey data points since 2008 to assess recent progress, and one of these must have been since 2012 to reflect post-baseline status.
- If countries do not have any post-baseline status (2012) data, an assessment is reserved until estimates in the post-baseline period become available.
- Availability of nationally representative estimates approximately every three years aids effective progress-monitoring and supports reliable assessment.
Table 1A and 1B. Methodology for tracking country progress on nutrition targets
Table 1A.
| INDICATOR | ON TRACK | OFF TRACK – SOME PROGRESS | OFF TRACK – NO PROGRESS OR WORSENING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stunting | AARR ≥ required AARR* or level <5% |
AARR < required AARR* but ≥0.5 |
AARR < required AARR* and <0.5 |
| Anaemia | AARR ≥5.2** or level <5% | AARR <5.2 but ≥0.5 | AARR <0.5 |
| Low birth weight | AARR ≥2.74+ or level <5% | AARR <2.74 but ≥0.5 | AARR <0.5 |
| Not exclusively breastfed | AARR ≥2.74++ or level <30% | AARR <2.74 but ≥0.8 | AARR <0.8 |
| Wasting | Level <5% | Level ≥5% but AARR ≥2.0 | Level ≥5% and AARR <2.0 |
Table 1B.
| INDICATOR | ON TRACK | OFF TRACK |
|---|---|---|
| Overweight | AARR ≥-1.5 | AARR <-1.5 |
Source: WHO and UNICEF, 2017. Methodology for monitoring progress towards the global nutrition targets for 2025: Technical report. WHO/UNICEF Technical Expert Advisory Group on Nutrition Monitoring. Geneva: WHO, UNICEF: New York.
Notes: AARR = average annual rate of reduction. *Required AARR is based on the stunting prevalence change, corresponding to a 40% reduction in the number of stunted children between 2012 and 2025, considering the estimated population growth (based on UN Population Prospects). **Required AARR is based on a 50% reduction in prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age between 2012 and 2025. +Required AARR is based on a 30% reduction in prevalence of low birth weight between 2012 and 2025. ++Required AARR is based on a 30% reduction in not exclusively breastfed rate between 2012 and 2025.
Diet-related non-communicable disease targets
The WHO Global Monitoring Framework for the Prevention and Control of NCDs was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2013 to effectively implement the NCD Global Action Plan and monitor progress in NCD prevention and control at the global level.
The framework includes nine voluntary targets tracked by 25 indicators of NCD outcomes and risk factors. The overarching goal is to reduce premature mortality due to NCDs by 25% by 2025. The 2016 Global Nutrition Report tracked target 7, ‘halt the rise in diabetes and obesity’. The 2018 Global Nutrition Report tracked additional targets on reducing salt/sodium intake by 30% at the population level (target 4) and reducing the prevalence of high blood pressure/hypertension by 25% (target 6).
Country progress towards the targets on reducing salt/sodium, raised blood pressure, diabetes and obesity is derived from modelled estimates computed by the GNR as follows:
Required AARR
For raised blood pressure, the required AARR is calculated using the formula: 100*(1-〖0.75〗^x)
where x=1/(y-2010)
and y is the target year (2025). The value 0.75 corresponds to a 25% reduction in prevalence of raised blood pressure.
For diabetes, overweight and obesity, the required AARR is zero for any target year.
Actual AARR
The actual AARR is calculated using estimates provided by NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, comprising the periods 2010–2016 for obesity and overweight, 2010–2015 for raised blood pressure, and 2010–2014 for diabetes.
The methodology is the same as that used for some of the MIYCN targets: a linear regression is fitted to the logarithm of the prevalences and the years, giving a formula:
y=α+βx
where x is the year, y is the logarithm of the prevalence, and α is the y intercept. The actual AARR is then estimated as 100 * (1-exp(β))
Progress is characterised as ‘on course’ if the actual AARR is equal to or larger than the required AARR, and ‘off course’ if the actual AARR is smaller than the required AARR; ‘some’ progress is not assessed for NCD targets. Global progress is evaluated in the same manner, and the probability of the target being reached is specified.
Regional and sub-regional estimates
The process of deriving regional and sub-regional estimates from country-level data involves a method called population-weighted means. This method allows us to create a reasonable estimate for the region and sub-region without a pre-calculated figure.
Prevalence estimates for countries consist of a numerator (estimated number of a group of people to have a characteristic in a given country) and denominator (estimated number in that group of people in a given country). The numerators and denominators are considered separately and only aggregated in the final stages in order to provide reasonable regional and sub-regional estimates. For each country, the population-weighted means method sums the numerators and divides by the sum of the denominators (i.e., populations). This is illustrated in Table 2 with a mock example.
Table 2. Mock example of population-weighted means method
| COUNTRY | OBESITY PREVALENCE (%) [A] | POPULATION (M) [B] | POPULATION-WEIGHTED [C] = [A] X [B] |
|---|---|---|---|
| X | 50 | 20 | 1000 |
| Y | 25 | 8 | 200 |
| Z | 10 | 4 | 40 |
| Total | 85 | 32 | 1240 |
In the mock example, the population weighted mean is 38.8% [1240/32], whereas the unweighted mean is 28.3% [85/3]. It is intuitive that Country X would have a larger effect on the prevalence we calculate for a region consisting of countries X, Y and Z, since it contains more of the people being measured. Therefore, the population-weighted mean is more representative of the prevalence of obesity in the region than the unweighted mean. Notable examples where this is particularly important are South Asia, where India is a disproportionately large country, and East Asia, where China where is disproportionately large.
The country population data used for this methodology are sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The indicators are population-weighted by the population of the age bracket that corresponds to the indicator (i.e., ages 5–19 for adolescent indicators). To ensure reasonable estimates, we only produce these for indicators with full coverage at the country level (i.e., population weighted means are not produced if there are some countries with missing data for that indicator). This method for producing regional and sub-regional estimates is specified in the data type section for the relevant indicators.
Appendix
SECTION 1. The burden of malnutrition at a glance
FIGURE 1.1. Progress towards the global nutrition targets
Section or indicator
Progress against global nutrition targets
Indicator definition
Assessment of country progress against 10 of the global nutrition targets, using projected data and average annual rates of reduction (AARR)
Data type
Various – data types, methods and sources for assessing progress differ between the targets. Data types include Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and other nationally representative surveys.
Source
- World Health Organization (WHO). Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators. Accessed 2 September 2021.
- United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)/WHO. Low birthweight estimates. Published online June 2019. https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/low-birthweight. Accessed 24 August 2021.
- UNICEF. Global databases: Infant and young child feeding. Published online September 2021. http://data.unicef.org/nutrition/iycf. Accessed 1 October 2021.
- UNICEF/WHO/World Bank. Joint child malnutrition estimates expanded database: Stunting, wasting and overweight. https://data.unicef.org/resources/dataset/malnutrition-data. Accessed 31 August 2021.
- NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. Values for 2000 to 2016 are published online. http://ncdrisc.org/data-downloads.html. Accessed 24 August 2021. Projected values for 2019 were provided directly to the Global Nutrition Report by NCD Risk Factor Collaboration.
- Tufts University. Global Dietary Database. Published online 2019. https://www.globaldietarydatabase.org/data-download. Accessed 6 September 2021.
Additional information
Data is unavailable for many countries across the targets Where adequate data exists, country progress is expressed as ‘on course’, ‘some progress’ or ‘no progress or worsening’ for maternal, infant and young child nutrition targets; and ‘on course’ or ‘off course’ for nutrition-related non-communicable disease (NCD) targets. Regional progress is expressed as the total number of constituent countries that are ‘on course’.
SECTION 2. Diet
FIGURE 2.1.1 Prevalence of infant and young child feeding indicators
Section or indicator
Early initiation of breastfeeding
Indicator definition
Proportion of children born in the last 24 months who were put to the breast within one hour of birth.
Data type
Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and other nationally representative surveys
Source
UNICEF. Infant and young child feeding: Early initiation of breastfeeding (birth). Published online September 2021. http://data.unicef.org/nutrition/iycf. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Exclusive breastfeeding
Indicator definition
Proportion of children born in the last 24 months who were put to the breast within one hour of birth.
Data type
MICS, DHS and other nationally representative surveys
Source
UNICEF. Infant and young child feeding: Exclusive breastfeeding (< 6 months). Published online September 2021. http://data.unicef.org/nutrition/iycf. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods
Indicator definition
Percentage of infants aged 6–8 months who received solid, semi-solid or soft foods during the previous day.
Data type
MICS, DHS and other nationally representative surveys
Source
UNICEF. Infant and young child feeding: Introduction of solid, semi solid or soft foods (6-8 months). Published online September 2021. http://data.unicef.org/nutrition/iycf. Accessed 1 October 2021.
Section or indicator
Continued breastfeeding at 12–23 months
Indicator definition
Proportion of children aged 12–23 months who received breast milk during the previous day.
Data type
MICS, DHS and other nationally representative surveys
Source
UNICEF. Infant and young child feeding. Published online July 2021. http://data.unicef.org/nutrition/iycf. Accessed16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Minimum dietary diversity
Indicator definition
Proportion of children aged 6–23 months who received foods from five or more food groups during the previous day.
Data type
MICS, DHS and other nationally representative surveys
Source
UNICEF Global Databases: Infant and young child feeding. Published online September 2021. https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/diets/. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Minimum meal frequency
Indicator definition
Proportion of children aged 6–23 months who received solid, semi-solid, soft foods, or (for breastfed children) milk feeds, the minimum number of times or more during the previous day.
Data type
MICS, DHS and other nationally representative surveys
Source
UNICEF Global Databases: Infant and young child feeding. Published September 2021. https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/diets/. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Minimum acceptable diet
Indicator definition
Composite indicator: Proportion of breastfed children aged 6–23 months who had at least the minimum dietary diversity and the minimum meal frequency during the previous day, and the proportion of non-breastfed children aged 6–23 months who received at least two milk feedings and had at least the minimum dietary diversity, not including milk feeds, and the minimum meal frequency during the previous day.
Data type
MICS, DHS and other nationally representative surveys
Source
UNICEF Global Databases: Infant and young child feeding. Published September 2021. https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/diets/. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 2.2.1 Dietary intakes of key foods and nutrients in adults aged 25 and over
Section or indicator
Fruit; Vegetables; Nuts; Legumes; Whole grains; Fish; Dairy; Red meat
Indicator definition
Intake of select foods and nutrients by adults aged 25 and older, compared against the recommended intake from the EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems.
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
Tufts University. Global Dietary Database. Published online 2019. https://www.globaldietarydatabase.org/data-download. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Additional information
The dietary factors have been selected as those diet components that have a statistically significant relationship with at least one disease endpoint that can be generalisable to all populations. Recommended intake targets were determined by the EAT-Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems. This includes minimum recommended intakes of health promoting foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and wholegrains) and maximum recommended intakes of foods with detrimental health and/or environmental impacts (red meat, dairy, and fish).
SECTION 3. Burden of malnutrition
FIGURE 3.1.1 Prevalence of stunting, wasting and overweight in children under 5 years of age
Section or indicator
Stunting
Indicator definition
Percentage of children aged 0–59 months who are more than two standard deviations below median height for age of the WHO Child Growth Standards.
Data type
Population surveys
Source
UNICEF/WHO/World Bank. Joint child malnutrition estimates expanded database: Stunting (Survey Estimates). Published May 2022. https://data.unicef.org/resources/dataset/malnutrition-data. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Wasting
Indicator definition
Percentage of children aged 0–59 months who are more than two (moderate and severe) standard deviations below median weight for height of the WHO Child Growth Standards.
Data type
Population surveys
Source
UNICEF/WHO/World Bank. Joint child malnutrition estimates expanded database: Wasting (Survey Estimates). Published May 2022. https://data.unicef.org/resources/dataset/malnutrition-data. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Overweight
Indicator definition
Percentage of children under 5 years who are more than two standard deviations above the median weight-for-height of the WHO Child Growth Standards.
Data type
Population surveys
Source
UNICEF/WHO/World Bank. Joint child malnutrition estimates expanded database: Overweight (Survey Estimates). Published May 2022. https://data.unicef.org/resources/dataset/malnutrition-data. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 3.1.2 Prevalence of coexisting stunting, wasting and overweight in children under 5 years of age
Section or indicator
Coexistence of wasting, stunting and overweight
Indicator definition
Coexistence of wasting, stunting and overweight among children under 5 years of age
Data type
Population surveys
Source
UNICEF Global databases: Overlapping stunting, wasting and overweight. Published May 2022. https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/malnutrition. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 3.1.3 Prevalence of infants with low birth weight
Section or indicator
Low birth weight
Indicator definition
Infants born weighing less than 2,500 grams (5.51 pounds)
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
UNICEF/WHO. Low birthweight estimates. Published June 2022. https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/low-birthweight. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 3.2.1 Prevalence of thinness, overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 5-19 years
Section or indicator
Child and adolescent thinness
Indicator definition
Percentage of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years who are more than two standard deviations below the median BMI-for-age of the WHO growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents.
Data type
Modelled estimates and projected estimates
Source
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. Values for 2000 to 2016 are published online. http://ncdrisc.org/data-downloads.html. Accessed 16 November 2022. Projected values for 2019 were provided directly to the Global Nutrition Report by NCD Risk Factor Collaboration.
Additional information
Regional data is based on the population-weighted means of all constituent countries with available data.
Section or indicator
Child and adolescent overweight
Indicator definition
Percentage of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years who are more than one standard deviation above the median BMI-for-age of the WHO growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents.
Data type
Modelled estimates and projected estimates
Source
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. Values for 2000 to 2016 are published online. http://ncdrisc.org/data-downloads.html. Accessed 16 November 2022. Projected values for 2019 were provided directly to the Global Nutrition Report by NCD Risk Factor Collaboration.
Additional information
Regional data is based on the population-weighted means of all constituent countries with available data.
Section or indicator
Child and adolescent obesity
Indicator definition
Percentage of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years who are more than two standard deviations above the median BMI-for-age of the WHO growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents.
Data type
Modelled estimates and projected estimates
Source
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. Values for 2000 to 2016 are published online. http://ncdrisc.org/data-downloads.html. Accessed 16 November 2022. Projected values for 2019 were provided directly to the Global Nutrition Report by NCD Risk Factor Collaboration.
Additional information
Regional data is based on the population-weighted means of all constituent countries with available data.
FIGURE 3.3.1 Prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in adults aged 18 years and over
Section or indicator
Adult underweight
Indicator definition
Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older with a BMI lower than 18.5 kg/m2
Data type
Modelled estimates and projected estimates
Source
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. Values for 2000 to 2016 are published online. http://ncdrisc.org/data-downloads.html. Accessed 16 November 2022. Projected values for 2019 were provided directly to the Global Nutrition Report by NCD Risk Factor Collaboration.
Additional information
Regional data is based on the population-weighted means of all constituent countries with available data.
Section or indicator
Adult overweight
Indicator definition
Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older with a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or higher
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. Values for 2000 to 2016 are published online. http://ncdrisc.org/data-downloads.html. Accessed 16 November 2022. Projected values for 2019 were provided directly to the Global Nutrition Report by NCD Risk Factor Collaboration.
Additional information
Regional data is based on the population-weighted means of all constituent countries with available data.
Section or indicator
Adult obesity
Indicator definition
Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher
Data type
Modelled estimates and projected estimates
Source
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. Values for 2000 to 2016 are published online. http://ncdrisc.org/data-downloads.html. Accessed 16 November 2022. Projected values for 2019 were provided directly to the Global Nutrition Report by NCD Risk Factor Collaboration.
Additional information
Regional data is based on the population-weighted means of all constituent countries with available data.
FIGURE 3.3.2 Prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age
Section or indicator
Anaemia in women of reproductive age
Indicator definition
Prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age (15–49 years), both pregnant and non- pregnant, with haemoglobin levels below 12 g/dL for non-pregnant women and below 11 g/dL for pregnant women
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
WHO. Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Additional information
Where estimates are not provided, regional data is based on the population-weighted means of all constituent countries with available data.
FIGURE 3.3.3 Prevalence of raised blood pressure and diabetes in adults aged 18 years and over
Section or indicator
Raised blood pressure
Indicator definition
Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older with raised blood pressure – defined as blood pressure, systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg
Data type
Modelled estimates and projected estimates
Source
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. Values for 2000 to 2016 are published online. http://ncdrisc.org/data-downloads.html. Accessed 16 November 2022. Projected values for 2019 were provided directly to the Global Nutrition Report by NCD Risk Factor Collaboration.
Additional information
Regional data is based on the population-weighted means of all constituent countries with available data.
Section or indicator
Diabetes
Indicator definition
Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older with diabetes – fasting glucose 7.0 mmol/L, on medication for raised blood glucose, or with history of diagnosis of diabetes
Data type
Modelled estimates and projected estimates
Source
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. Values for 2000 to 2016 are published online. http://ncdrisc.org/data-downloads.html. Accessed 16 November 2022. Projected values for 2019 were provided directly to the Global Nutrition Report by NCD Risk Factor Collaboration.
Additional information
Regional data is based on the population-weighted means of all constituent countries with available data.
FIGURE 3.4.1 Deaths attributed to dietary risk factors
Section or indicator
Deaths
Indicator definition
Deaths (in millions) attributable to dietary risk factors by cause of death for risks related to dietary composition and weight levels
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
New analysis based on estimates of: food intake from the Global Dietary Database, https://www.globaldietarydatabase.org/data-download; weight measurements from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, http://ncdrisc.org/data-downloads.html; risk-disease relationships from the epidemiological literature (Bechthold et al. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2019; 59: 1071–90; Schwingshackl et al. European Journal of Epidemiology 2017; 32: 363–75; Schwingshackl et al. International Journal of Cancer 2018; 142: 1748–58; Afshin et al. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2014 (ajcn.076901); Aune et al. BMC Medicine 2016; 14: 207; Aune et al. International Journal of Epidemiology 2016; published online 18 March; Di Angelantonio et al. Lancet 2016; 388: 776–86; Aune et al. British Medical Journal 2016; 353: i2716; Imamura et al. British Medical Journal 2015; 351: h3576; Xi et al. British Journal of Nutrition 2015; 113: 709–17); and mortality and population estimates from the Global Burden of Disease project, http://www.healthdata.org/gbd/gbd-2019-resources.
Additional information
The combined risk is less than the sum of individual risks because individuals can be exposed to multiple risks, but mortality is ascribed to one risk and cause.
SECTION 4. Nutrition strategies and financing
FIGURE 4.1.1. Implemented national food and NCD policies
Section or indicator
Food-based dietary guidelines
Indicator definition
Typically, a set of recommendations in terms of foods, food groups and dietary patterns to provide the required nutrients to promote overall health and prevent chronic diseases.
Source
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Food-based dietary guidelines. http://www.fao.org/nutrition/education/food-based-dietary-guidelines/en. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Additional information
Regional data is expressed as the total number of constituent countries with guidelines.
Section or indicator
Mandatory legislation for salt iodisation
Indicator definition
Legal documentation that has the effect of mandating the iodisation of salt.
Source
Global Fortification Data Exchange. https://fortificationdata.org/interactive-map-fortification-legislation. Accessed 16 November 2022 .
Additional information
Regional data is expressed as the total number of constituent countries that have mandatory legislation.
Section or indicator
Sugar-sweetened beverage tax
Indicator definition
Jurisdictions with implemented sugar-sweetened beverage taxes.
Source
WHO. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators. Accessed 16 November 2022 .
Additional information
Regional data is expressed as the total number of constituent countries with implemented sugar-sweetened beverage taxes.
Section or indicator
Policy to reduce salt consumption
Indicator definition
Policy (or policies) to reduce population salt consumption such as product reformulation by industry, regulation of salt content of food or public awareness programmes
Data type
Method of estimation: official country response to the NCD Country Capacity Survey
Source
WHO. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators. Accessed 16 November 2022 .
Additional information
This indicator is based on those of countries who have responded “Yes” to the question “Is your country implementing any policies to reduce population salt consumption?”.
Section or indicator
Policy to limit saturated fatty acids
Indicator definition
Policy (or policies) to reduce population saturated fatty acid intake
Data type
Method of estimation: official country response to the NCD Country Capacity Survey
Source
WHO. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Additional information
This indicator is based on those countries who have responded “Yes” to the question “Is your country implementing any national policies to reduce population saturated fatty acid intake?”.
Section or indicator
Policy to eliminate industrially produced trans fatty acids
Indicator definition
Policy (or policies) to eliminate industrially produced trans-fatty acids in the food supply
Data type
Method of estimation: official country response to the NCD Country Capacity Survey
Source
WHO. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Additional information
This indicator is based on those countries who have responded “Yes” to the question “Is your country implementing any national policies to eliminate industrially produced trans-fatty acids (i.e. partially hydrogenated oils) in the food supply?”.
Section or indicator
Policy to reduce the impact of marketing of foods and beverages high in saturated fats, trans fatty acids, free sugars, or salt on children
Indicator definition
Policy (or policies) to reduce the impact on children of marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars or salt
Data type
Method of estimation: official country response to the NCD Country Capacity Survey
Source
WHO. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Additional information
This indicator is based on those countries who responded “Yes” to the question “Is your country implementing any policies to reduce the impact on children of marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, or salt?".
Section or indicator
Operational, multisectoral national NCD policy, strategy or action plan
Indicator definition
Operational, multisectoral national NCD policy, strategy or action plan that integrates several NCDs and their risk factors: 'multisectoral' refers to engagement with one or more government sectors outside health; 'operational' refers to a policy, strategy or action plan which is being used and implemented in the country, and has resources and funding available to implement it
Data type
Method of estimation: official country response to the NCD Country Capacity Survey
Source
WHO. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Additional information
Countries who have a "Yes" for this indicator have responded “Yes” to the question “Does your country have a national NCD policy, strategy or action plan which integrates several NCDs and their risk factors?” and the sub-question “Is it multisectoral?”. Countries also had to respond “operational” for the sub-question “Indicate its stage”. They also had to indicate that the policy/strategy/action plan addresses the four main risk factors for NCDs (harmful alcohol use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco) and the four main NCDs (cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes). An exception is made for alcohol according to national context.
Section or indicator
Operational policy, strategy or action plan to reduce unhealthy diet related to NCDs
Indicator definition
Operational policy, strategy or action plan for unhealthy diet
Data type
Method of estimation: official country response to WHO NCD Country Capacity Survey
Source
WHO. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Operational policy, strategy or action plan for diabetes
Indicator definition
Operational policy, strategy or action plan for diabetes
Data type
Method of estimation: official country response to WHO NCD Country Capacity Survey
Source
WHO. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 4. 2.1. Inclusion of targets related to the global nutrition targets in national policies
Section or indicator
Various targets included in national policies
Indicator definition
Targets included in any national government-implemented policy, strategy or plan relevant to improving nutrition and promoting healthy diet. Legislation, codes, regulations, protocols and guidelines, as well as non-governmental policies, were not considered.
Source
WHO GINA, 2nd Global Nutrition Policy Review
Additional information
Regional data is expressed as the total number of constituent countries with each target in their national policies.
FIGURE 4.3.1. Population coverage of key supplementation and fortification interventions
Section or indicator
Children 0–59 months with diarrhoea in the past two weeks preceding the survey who received zinc treatment
Indicator definition
Percentage of children under 5 years of age with diarrhoea in the past two weeks preceding the survey who received zinc treatment.
Data type
Survey
Source
UNICEF. Global Databases: Child Health Coverage. Published May 2022. https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-health/diarrhoeal-disease. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Children 6–59 months who received two high-dose vitamin A supplements in a calendar year
Indicator definition
Percentage of children aged 6–59 months who received two high-dose vitamin A supplements in a calendar year.
Data type
Survey
Source
UNICEF. Vitamin A data. https://data.unicef.org/resources/dataset/vitamin-supplementation. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Children 6–59 months given iron supplements in the seven days preceding the survey
Indicator definition
Percentage of children aged 6–59 months who were given iron supplements in the seven days preceding the survey.
Data type
Data is compiled using STATcompiler and taken from country DHS for 2005–2021
Source
STATcompiler. The DHS Program. www.statcompiler.com. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Women with a live birth in the five years preceding the survey who received iron tablets or syrup during antenatal care
Indicator definition
Percentage of women with a birth in the five years preceding the survey who received iron tablets and syrup during antenatal care.
Data type
Data is compiled using STATcompiler and taken from country DHS for 2005–2021
Source
STATcompiler. The DHS Program. www.statcompiler.com. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Households consuming any iodised salt
Indicator definition
Percentage of households with any iodised salt.
Data type
Survey
Source
UNICEF. Global databases on iodized salt. Published October 2021.https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/iodine. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 4.4.1. Allocation of official development assistance (ODA) for nutrition
Section or indicator
Development assistance
Indicator definition
Official development assistance (ODA) received/disbursed (US$ millions/% of total); disbursements of ODA from/to countries, reported to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) under the basic nutrition purpose code (number 12240).
Data type
Disbursements
Source
Development Initiatives based on OECD DAC CRS
Additional information
Amounts based on gross ODA disbursements, constant 2020 prices; includes ODA grants and loans, but excludes other official flows and private grants reported to the OECD DAC Creditor Reporting System (CRS). Regional data is the sum of disbursements received or made by constituent countries.
SECTION 5. Social determinants of nutrition
FIGURE 5.1. Population composition
Section or indicator
Total population, thousands
Indicator definition
Total population
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Under 5 population, thousands
Indicator definition
Total population of children aged 0-59 months
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
65 and over population, thousands
Indicator definition
Total population aged 65 years or older
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Rural population, %
Indicator definition
Percentage of population living in rural areas
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 5.2. Population composition
Section or indicator
Undernourishment
Indicator definition
The percentage of the population whose habitual food consumption is insufficient to provide the dietary energy levels required to maintain a normal active and healthy life
Data type
Food security indicator
Source
FAO Statistics Division. Food Security/Suite of Food Security Indicators. http://www.fao.org/sustainable-development-goals/indicators/211/en. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Additional information
Calculated from three-year averages of modelled estimates, with the associated year being the middle year of those three (e.g., 2018 estimate is the average of 2017–2019)
FIGURE 5.3. Under-5 mortality rate per 1,000 live births
Section or indicator
Under-5 mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)
Indicator definition
Probability of dying between birth and 5 years of age, expressed per 1,000 live births
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
UNICEF. Global Databases: Under-five mortality. Published December 2021. http://data.unicef.org/child-mortality/under-five. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 5.4. Population density of health workers per 1,000 people
Section or indicator
Population density of health workers (per 1,000 population)
Indicator definition
Population density of health workers (per 1,000 population): medical doctors include generalist and specialist medical practitioners; nurses and midwives include professional nurses, professional midwives, auxiliary nurses, auxiliary midwives, enrolled nurses, enrolled midwives and other associated personnel such as dental nurses and primary care nurses; community health workers include various types of community health aides, many with country-specific occupational titles such as community health officers, community health-education workers, family health workers, lady health visitors and health extension package workers
Data type
Population surveys and modelled estimates
Source
WHO. Global Health Workforce Statistics. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 5.5. Source of drinking water
Section or indicator
Drinking water coverage
Indicator definition
Percentage of the population using improved drinking-water sources – based on the following categories: ‘safely managed’, drinking water from an improved water source that is located on premises, available when needed and free from faecal and priority chemical contamination; ‘basic’, drinking water from an improved source, provided collection time is not more than 30 minutes for a round trip, including queuing; ‘limited’, drinking water from an improved source for which collection time exceeds 30 minutes for a roundtrip including queuing; ‘unimproved’, drinking water from an unprotected dug well or unprotected spring; ‘surface water’, drinking water directly from a river, dam, lake, pond, stream, canal or irrigation canal
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
WHO/UNICEF. Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation. https://washdata.org/data. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 5.6. Type of sanitation facility
Section or indicator
Sanitation coverage
Indicator definition
Percentage of the population using improved sanitation facilities – based on the following categories: ‘safely managed’, use of improved facilities that are not shared with other households and where excreta are safely disposed in situ or transported and treated off-site; ‘basic’, use of improved facilities that are not shared with other households; ‘limited’, use of improved facilities shared between two or more households; ‘unimproved’, use of pit latrines without a slab or platform, hanging latrines or bucket latrines; ‘open defecation’, disposal of human faeces in fields, forests, bushes, open bodies of water, beaches and other open spaces or with solid waste
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
WHO/UNICEF. Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation. https://washdata.org/data. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 5.7. Annual gross domestic product (GDP) per capita
Section or indicator
GDP (PPP$)
Indicator definition
Gross domestic product per person based on purchasing power parity, with data in constant 2017 international dollars
Source
International Monetary Fund. World Economic Outlook Databases. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/April. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Additional information
Regional data is based on the population-weighted means of all constituent countries with available data
FIGURE 5.8. Population living below the poverty line
Section or indicator
Poverty rates
Indicator definition
Percentage of the population living on less than $1.90 a day at 2011 international prices
Data type
Household surveys
Source
World Bank. PovcalNet: an online analysis tool for global poverty monitoring. http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/home.aspx. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Additional information
Regional data is based on the population-weighted means of all constituent countries with available data
Section or indicator
Poverty rates
Indicator definition
Percentage of the population living on less than $3.20 a day at 2011 international prices
Data type
Household surveys
Source
World Bank. PovcalNet: an online analysis tool for global poverty monitoring. http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/home.aspx. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Additional information
Regional data is based on the population-weighted means of all constituent countries with available data
FIGURE 5.9. Country income inequality index
Section or indicator
Income inequality
Indicator definition
Country income inequality, based on the Gini index, which measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households in an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. The Gini index ranges from 0 (perfect equality) to 100 (perfect inequality).
Data type
Index, based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments
Source
World Bank. Gini index. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 5.10. Gender-related determinants
Section or indicator
Early childbearing – births by 18 years of age
Indicator definition
Percentage of women aged 20–24 years who gave birth before 18 years of age
Data type
Based on MICS, DHS and other nationally representative surveys
Source
UNICEF. Global Databases: Maternal and Newborn Health Coverage. Published May 2022. http://data.unicef.org/maternal-health/delivery-care. Accessed 16 November 2022.
Section or indicator
Gender inequality index
Indicator definition
Measurement of gender inequalities in terms of three important aspects of human development: reproductive health – measured by maternal mortality ratio and adolescent birth rates; empowerment – measured by proportion of parliamentary seats occupied by women and proportion of women and men aged 25 years and older with at least some secondary education; and economic status – expressed as labour market participation and measured by labour force participation rate of female and male populations aged 15 years and older
Data type
Composite index
Source
UN Development Programme, Human Development Reports. Gender Inequality Index. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/thematic-composite-indices/gender-inequality-index#/indicies/GII. Accessed 16 November 2022.
FIGURE 5.11. Prevalence of female secondary school enrolment
Section or indicator
Female secondary education enrolment
Indicator definition
The total number of female students in the official school age range for upper secondary education who are enrolled in any level of education out of the overall population of the same age group
Data type
Population surveys
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics. http://data.uis.unesco.org/. Accessed 16 November 2022.
SECTION 6. Environmental impacts
FIGURE 6.1. Environmental impacts of the food system
Section or indicator
Environmental domain
Indicator definition
Food-related environmental impacts expressed by environmental domain and food group. Environmental domains consist of ‘greenhouse gas emissions’, ‘land use’, ‘freshwater use’, ‘nitrogen application’ and ‘phosphorus application’.
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
New analysis based on estimates of food demand from FAO (FAO. Food Balance Sheets: A Handbook. Rome, Italy: FAO, 2001) and a database of country and food group-specific environmental footprints (Springmann et al. Options for keeping the food system within environmental limits. Nature 2018; 562: 519–25; Poore & Nemecek. Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science 2018; 360: 987–92).
Additional information
Data on food demand for each country from the FAO was paired with a comprehensive database of environmental footprints, differentiated by country, food group, and environmental impact. The footprints take into account all food production, including inputs such as fertilisers and feed, transport, and processing e.g. of oil seeds to oils and sugar crops to sugars.
FIGURE 6.2. Global impact of the food system
Section or indicator
Planetary boundary
Indicator definition
Planetary boundary value expressed by component of the food system and food group. Components consist of ‘cropland’, ‘freshwater’, ‘greenhouse gases’, ‘nitrogen’ and ‘phosphorus’.
Data type
Modelled estimates
Source
New analysis based on estimates of food demand from FAO (FAO. Food Balance Sheets: A Handbook. Rome, Italy: FAO, 2001) and a database of country and food group-specific environmental footprints (Springmann et al. Options for keeping the food system within environmental limits. Nature 2018; 562: 519–25; Poore & Nemecek. Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science 2018; 360: 987–92). The target values for sustainable food production are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals specified by and adapted from the EAT-Lancet Commission (Willett et al. The Lancet 2019; 393: 447–92; Springmann et al. The British Medical Journal 2020; 370: 2322).
Additional information
Planetary boundaries define the threshold related to global environmental processes beyond which humanity should not go. Planetary boundaries align with the targets for sustainable food production as set out by the Sustainable Development Goals. If impacts exceed 100% of the planetary boundary, the dietary pattern can be considered unsustainable in light of global environmental targets, and disproportionate in the context of an equitable distribution of environmental resources and mitigation efforts.
Table 2. Countries included within the Country Nutrition Profiles regions and sub-regions
AFRICA
Eastern Africa: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Middle Africa: Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe
Northern Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia
Southern Africa: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa
Western Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
ASIA
Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Eastern Asia: China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Republic of Korea
South-eastern Asia: Brunei, Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Viet Nam
Southern Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Western Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, State of Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
EUROPE
Eastern Europe: Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Ukraine
Northern Europe: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Southern Europe: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain
Western Europe: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Switzerland
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
South America: Argentina, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
NORTH AMERICA
Northern America: Canada, United States of America
OCEANIA
Australia and New Zealand: Australia, New Zealand
Melanesia: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
Micronesia: Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau
Polynesia: Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu
Footnotes
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For a detailed and thorough discussion of the methodology for monitoring progress towards the global maternal, infant and young child nutrition targets for 2025 see: WHO and UNICEF for the WHO/UNICEF Technical Expert Advisory Group on Nutrition Monitoring. Methodology for Monitoring Progress Towards the Global Nutrition Targets for 2025. Technical report. Geneva: WHO, New York: UNICEF, 2017.
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WHO. World Health Statistics 2019. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Geneva: WHO, 2019. https://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.imr.ANEMIAPW?lang=en.
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UNICEF and WHO. Low Birthweight Estimates, 2019 edition.www.who.int/nutrition/publications/UNICEFWHO-lowbirthweight-estimates-2019/en/.
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UNICEF. UNICEF Global Databases: Infant and Young Child Feeding. New York: UNICEF Division of Data Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, 2019. http://data.unicef.org/nutrition/iycf. Accessed 3 February 2020.
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UNICEF/WHO/World Bank. Joint Child Malnutrition, 2019 edition. UNICEF: New York https://data.unicef.org/resources/dataset/malnutrition-data. Accessed 3 February 2020.
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Return to source text
WHO and UNICEF for the WHO/UNICEF Technical Expert Advisory Group on Nutrition Monitoring. Methodology for Monitoring Progress Towards the Global Nutrition Targets for 2025. Technical report. Geneva: WHO, New York: UNICEF, 2017.