In 2012, the estimated global prevalence of inadequate zinc intake across all ages — the proportion of the population who have a high risk of zinc deficiency — was approximately 17%.[1] However, the estimated prevalence varied widely among countries, reaching approximately 8% in high-income countries, and much higher in low-income and middle-income regions (e.g., approximately 26% in Sub-Saharan Africa and 30% in South Asia).[1] Recent work published in 2020 confirmed these high prevalence estimates of zinc deficiency in low-income and middle-income countries.[2]
Importantly, the estimated prevalence of zinc deficiency in children less than 5 years of age is also high (greater than 20%) in both high-income[3] and low-income/middle-income countries.[2]