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Data

Share of people who have zinc deficiency

About this data

Source
Wessells and Brown (2012) – processed by Our World in Data
Last updated
July 24, 2017
Date range
1990–2005
Unit
%

Sources and processing

This data is based on the following sources

Wessells and Brown – Estimating the global prevalence of zinc deficiency: results based on zinc availability in national food supplies and the prevalence of stunting

Estimates of zinc inadequacy were measured on the basis of national dietary intakes and esimates physiological requirements.

The authors note: "National food balance sheet data were obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Country-specific estimated prevalence of inadequate zinc intake were calculated based on the estimated absorbable zinc content of the national food supply, International Zinc Nutrition Consultative Group estimated physiological requirements for absorbed zinc, and demographic data obtained from United Nations estimates. Stunting data were obtained from a recent systematic analysis based on World Health Organization growth standards."

Retrieved on
July 24, 2017
Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3510072/
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
Wessells, K. R., & Brown, K. H. (2012). Estimating the global prevalence of zinc deficiency: results based on zinc availability in national food supplies and the prevalence of stunting. PloS one, 7(11).

Estimates of zinc inadequacy were measured on the basis of national dietary intakes and esimates physiological requirements.

The authors note: "National food balance sheet data were obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Country-specific estimated prevalence of inadequate zinc intake were calculated based on the estimated absorbable zinc content of the national food supply, International Zinc Nutrition Consultative Group estimated physiological requirements for absorbed zinc, and demographic data obtained from United Nations estimates. Stunting data were obtained from a recent systematic analysis based on World Health Organization growth standards."

Retrieved on
July 24, 2017
Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3510072/
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
Wessells, K. R., & Brown, K. H. (2012). Estimating the global prevalence of zinc deficiency: results based on zinc availability in national food supplies and the prevalence of stunting. PloS one, 7(11).

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Citations

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To cite this page overall, including any descriptions, FAQs or explanations of the data authored by Our World in Data, please use the following citation:

“Data Page: Share of people who have zinc deficiency”. Our World in Data (2026). Data adapted from Wessells and Brown. Retrieved from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260511-092124/grapher/global-prevalence-of-zinc-deficiency.html [online resource] (archived on May 11, 2026).

How to cite this data

In-line citationIf you have limited space (e.g. in data visualizations), you can use this abbreviated in-line citation:

Wessells and Brown (2012) – processed by Our World in Data

Full citation

Wessells and Brown (2012) – processed by Our World in Data. “Share of people who have zinc deficiency” [dataset]. Wessells and Brown, “Estimating the global prevalence of zinc deficiency: results based on zinc availability in national food supplies and the prevalence of stunting” [original data]. Retrieved May 11, 2026 from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260511-092124/grapher/global-prevalence-of-zinc-deficiency.html (archived on May 11, 2026).

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