Previous editions of anaemia estimates
WHO published the first global anaemia estimates in 2008, followed by a second and third update in 2015 and 2021.
The 2008 Edition provided estimates of the prevalence of anaemia at country, regional and global levels for all population groups.
The 2015 Edition was based on distribution trends of haemoglobin concentration and prevalence of anaemia and severe anaemia in young children and pregnant and non-pregnant women from 1995 to 2011 (Stevens, et al. 2013).
A patient undergoing a blood test.
WHO Global Anaemia estimates 2000-2019, 2021 Edition
The 2021 Edition of the global anaemia estimates for women 15-49 years of age, by pregnancy status, and in children aged 6-59 months were based on a pooled analysis of population-representative data from 2000 to 2019 (Stevens, et al. 2022).
Global Health Observatory (GHO) - WHO Global Anaemia estimates, 2021 Edition
Publications
WHO Global Anaemia estimates 1995-2011, 2015 Edition
The global prevalence of anaemia in 2011
WHO Global Anaemia estimates 1993-2005, 2008 Edition
Worldwide prevalence of anaemia 1993-2005
External publications
National, regional, and global estimates of anaemia by severity in women and children for 2000–19: a pooled analysis of population-representative data
Global, regional, and national trends in haemoglobin concentration and prevalence of total and severe anaemia in children and pregnant and non-pregnant women for 1995–2011: a systematic analysis of population-representative data
Worldwide prevalence of anaemia, WHO Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System, 1993-2005
Related health topic
The estimates are used for reporting to the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) for SDG monitoring, and they also contribute to global reports, such as the Global Nutrition Targets Tracking Tool, the Global Nutrition Report (GNR), and the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World. The data and other outputs are published in the WHO Global Health Observatory.