FIGURE 15.
Prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in the Arab States by subregion
Source: WHO.
https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7495en-fig15
https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7495en-fig15
Chapter 2 Sustainable Development Goal 2.2: Malnutrition
2.4 Anaemia among women of reproductive age
The prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age in the Arab region was estimated at 33.2 percent in 2019, 4.9 percentage points lower than in 2000. This is higher than the global average of 29.9 percent. Based on the WHO classification of public health significance, anaemia is a moderate public health problem in the region. However, anaemia in women of reproductive age is a severe public health problem in low-income economies, with the prevalence of 43.8 percent. In all other country income groups, anaemia is categorized as a moderate public health issue, with the prevalence of 30.3 percent in lower-middle-income economies, 30.2 percent in upper-middle-income economies and 27.1 percent in high-income economies. The prevalence of anaemia is a moderate public health issue in both conflict-affected countries (39.2 percent) as well as non-conflict countries (29.9 percent).
TABLE 9.
Prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) (percent)
| 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2019 | |
| World | 31.2 | 29.9 | 28.6 | 28.8 | 29.9 |
| Arab States | 38.1 | 36.2 | 33.8 | 32.8 | 33.2 |
| Low-income economies | 47.2 | 45.3 | 43.1 | 43.2 | 43.8 |
| Lower-middle-income economies | 35.9 | 34.4 | 32.1 | 30.7 | 30.3 |
| Upper-middle-income economies | 35.8 | 33.0 | 29.9 | 29.1 | 30.2 |
| High-income economies | 31.2 | 28.6 | 26.1 | 25.8 | 27.1 |
| Arab States LDCs | 50.4 | 48.6 | 46.6 | 45.8 | 45.9 |
| Conflict countries | 44.5 | 42.2 | 39.6 | 38.7 | 39.2 |
| Non-conflict countries | 34.9 | 33.2 | 30.8 | 29.8 | 29.9 |
Source: WHO.
The prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age has declined in 19 out of 22 Arab States in the past two decades. The exceptions are Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia where it has increased, while remaining as a moderate public health problem. The public health significance of anaemia in women of reproductive age was categorized as moderate in most Arab countries. The exceptions are the low–income countries of Mauritania, Somalia and Yemen, where it was a severe public health problem in 2019. Yemen displayed the highest prevalence of anaemia in the region with 61.5 percent.
FIGURE 16.
Prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in the Arab States by country
Source: WHO.
https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7495en-fig16
https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7495en-fig16