Is there a high prevalence of zinc deficiency worldwide?

December 26, 2025 •

4 min read

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes zinc deficiency as a major contributor to the global disease burden, with estimates suggesting that nearly 2 billion people worldwide are affected. So, is there a high prevalence of zinc deficiency worldwide? This article explores the pervasive issue, its causes, and significant global health implications.

Quick Summary

An estimated 17% of the global population is at risk of inadequate zinc intake, with higher rates in developing regions impacting growth, immunity, and overall health.

Key Points

Widespread Prevalence: Nearly 2 billion people worldwide are affected by zinc deficiency, with over 15% of the global population estimated to have inadequate intake.
Regional Disparity: The highest rates of deficiency are found in developing regions, particularly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, due to dietary habits.
Phytate's Role: High consumption of staple grains and legumes, which contain phytates that inhibit absorption, is a major dietary cause.
Vulnerable Populations: Children, pregnant and lactating women, and older adults are among the highest-risk groups for zinc deficiency.
Broad Health Impacts: Consequences of deficiency include compromised immune function, delayed growth, skin issues, and impaired wound healing.
Complex Diagnosis: Diagnosing mild zinc deficiency is challenging as reliable biomarkers are lacking, making risk factors and symptoms crucial for assessment.
Multi-Strategy Response: Solutions include improving diet diversity, food fortification, crop biofortification, and targeted supplementation.

The Alarming Global Picture of Zinc Deficiency

Estimates from global health organizations confirm a high prevalence of zinc deficiency globally, particularly in vulnerable populations and specific geographic regions. According to a recent analysis using food balance sheets, approximately 15% of the global population, which translates to over 1.13 billion people, is estimated to have inadequate zinc intake. Early data indicated even higher risks in certain areas, suggesting up to 25% of the world's population could be affected conservatively. This micronutrient malnutrition is not evenly distributed but is concentrated in areas where diets are predominantly plant-based and lack diverse food sources.

Regional Variations in Prevalence

While developed countries report a lower prevalence, specific regions bear a disproportionate burden of zinc inadequacy. This stark contrast highlights the link between diet, economics, and nutritional health.


Region	Estimated Inadequate Zinc Intake	Underlying Factors
South Asia	Highest prevalence (>25-30%)	High reliance on staple grains high in phytates; low intake of animal source foods.
Sub-Saharan Africa	High prevalence (>25%)	Staple-based diets; low access to diverse zinc-rich foods.
Central America and Caribbean	Significant prevalence (17-33%)	Varying dietary patterns; limited access to animal products.
High-Income Countries	Lower prevalence (<10%)	More diverse diets; higher intake of zinc-rich animal products.

Causes and Risk Factors for Zinc Deficiency

The causes of zinc deficiency are complex and often multifaceted, involving both dietary habits and underlying health conditions.

Dietary Factors

High phytate intake: A primary driver of zinc deficiency in many developing countries is a diet heavy in unrefined cereals and legumes. Phytates in these foods bind to zinc, inhibiting its absorption. This is particularly problematic in regions like South Asia and parts of Africa where staple foods are phytate-rich grains. Soaking, fermenting, or sprouting grains can help reduce phytate levels, but these practices are not always sufficient or widespread.
Low consumption of animal products: Animal-based foods like meat, poultry, and shellfish are rich in highly bioavailable zinc. In areas where these foods are scarce or unaffordable, dietary zinc intake suffers. Vegetarians and vegans must carefully plan their diets to ensure sufficient zinc, as plant-based sources contain less absorbable zinc.

Vulnerable Groups and Health Conditions

Certain populations are at a higher risk of developing zinc deficiency:

Pregnant and lactating women: Increased metabolic demand during pregnancy and breastfeeding raises zinc requirements, placing women at higher risk if dietary intake is insufficient.
Children and infants: Zinc is critical for growth and development. Deficiencies during early childhood can lead to stunting and compromised immunity. Breastfed infants over six months whose mothers have low zinc stores are also at risk.
Older adults: Reduced appetite and absorption efficiency with age can lead to deficiency, especially in institutionalized or homebound seniors.
Individuals with gastrointestinal disorders: Conditions such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, or chronic diarrhea can impair zinc absorption and increase losses.
Chronic alcoholics: Alcohol consumption interferes with zinc absorption and increases its urinary excretion.

Widespread Symptoms and Health Consequences

Because zinc plays a vital role in over 300 enzyme reactions, its deficiency can manifest in a wide range of symptoms affecting multiple body systems.

Common symptoms include:

Skin rashes, often resembling eczema, particularly around the mouth, nose, and eyes.
Hair loss (alopecia).
Compromised immune function, leading to increased susceptibility to infections.
Slowed growth and developmental delays in children.
Impaired wound healing.
Loss of appetite.
Decreased sense of taste and smell (hypogeusia and hyposmia).
In men, hypogonadism and reduced sperm production.

The Global Response: Intervention and Prevention

Addressing the high prevalence of zinc deficiency requires multi-pronged strategies focusing on improving intake and bioavailability. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized this challenge and supports interventions aimed at at-risk populations.

Dietary and Supplementation Strategies

Dietary diversification: Promoting a varied diet that includes zinc-rich foods is the best long-term solution. This includes encouraging the consumption of meat, shellfish, dairy, nuts, and seeds. For plant-based diets, proper preparation techniques like soaking legumes can increase bioavailability.
Supplementation: Targeted supplementation is often necessary for vulnerable groups. For instance, zinc supplements have been shown to reduce the risk of infection and shorten the duration of diarrhea in children in low- and middle-income countries. Pregnant and lactating women may also require supplementation. However, excessive supplementation can cause toxicity and interfere with the absorption of other minerals like copper.
Fortification: Fortifying staple foods with zinc, such as cereals and flour, is a cost-effective public health strategy that has shown potential to reduce inadequate intake. Successful implementation of large-scale food fortification programs could substantially impact population zinc status.
Biofortification: This agricultural approach involves breeding staple crops, such as wheat and rice, to have higher zinc content. This tackles the issue at the source and can be highly effective in regions where specific crops dominate the diet.

The Challenge of Diagnosis

Diagnosing zinc deficiency is difficult because there is no single, reliable biomarker for mild deficiency. While blood plasma tests can show low levels in severe cases, they may not accurately reflect zinc status in milder instances. As a result, diagnosis often relies on considering risk factors, symptoms, and clinical response to supplementation. This challenge makes it hard to accurately estimate and track the full extent of the problem.

Conclusion: A Global Health Priority

The answer to the question, is there a high prevalence of zinc deficiency worldwide, is a resounding yes. It is a critical and widespread public health concern, especially in developing regions where dietary inadequacies are common. The consequences of insufficient zinc intake extend beyond physical symptoms, affecting growth, immune function, and potentially contributing to the burden of non-communicable diseases. Addressing this issue requires a global, coordinated effort combining improved food security, dietary diversity, targeted supplementation, and innovative agricultural strategies like biofortification. Recognition and action are key to mitigating the lifelong health impacts of this pervasive micronutrient deficiency.

For more information on the global burden and impact of zinc deficiency, consult the research available from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), which highlights ongoing efforts to combat this widespread issue. Addressing the global, life-long health impacts of zinc deficiency

Frequently Asked Questions

Zinc deficiency is a significant global health problem, with estimates indicating that over 1.13 billion people suffer from inadequate intake. It is particularly prevalent in developing countries in regions like South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, where diets are often low in bioavailable zinc.

Symptoms of zinc deficiency can affect multiple bodily systems. Common signs include skin rashes, hair loss, impaired immune function, delayed growth in children, poor wound healing, loss of appetite, and a reduced sense of taste and smell.

Vulnerable groups include children (especially those under five), pregnant and lactating women, older adults, individuals with gastrointestinal disorders like Crohn's or celiac disease, and those on vegetarian or vegan diets.

While plant-based foods contain zinc, they also have compounds called phytates that inhibit absorption. This makes it more difficult for vegetarians and vegans to meet their zinc needs solely through diet, and they may be at higher risk of deficiency.

Excellent food sources of zinc include animal products like meat, shellfish (oysters, crab), and poultry. Plant-based sources include legumes (chickpeas, lentils), nuts (cashews, almonds), seeds (pumpkin, sesame), and dairy products.

Supplementation is often used for severe deficiency and in high-risk populations, such as children with chronic diarrhea. However, a long-term approach typically involves dietary diversification, food fortification, or biofortification to address the root causes of inadequate intake.

Diagnosing mild to moderate zinc deficiency can be difficult because standard blood tests are not always reliable indicators. Healthcare providers typically assess a combination of dietary intake, clinical symptoms, risk factors, and blood test results to determine a deficiency.

Global efforts include food fortification programs, where zinc is added to staple foods like flour. Another strategy is biofortification, which involves breeding crops to contain higher levels of zinc. Targeted supplementation programs for at-risk groups are also common.