The anemia crisis, a debilitating condition affecting millions of children, adolescent girls and women in Pakistan, is quietly draining the country’s economy, costing over $3 billion in lost productivity and human capital

With annual losses estimated at $2.5 billion for children alone and an additional $595 million for adolescent girls and women, the total economic toll from anemia exceeds $3 billion, according to Nutrition International’s recent Cost of Inaction (COI) report.

Despite some improvements, anemia remains a serious public health challenge. Among children aged 6-59 months, 53% suffer from anaemia, with 2.8 million new cases reported annually. Pakistan ranks second in South Asia for prevalence of childhood anemia and 39th globally.

The condition is equally worrying for women and young girls, with 41.3% affected by anaemia. Pakistan ranks fourth in South Asia and 35th worldwide for anemia prevalence in this group. Each year, over 23.9 million new cases are reported among adolescent girls and women aged 15-49, including 918,154 cases among pregnant women.

The report highlights several factors that contribute to anemia in Pakistan. In children, iron deficiency due to inadequate dietary intake, recurrent infections and poor maternal nutrition are key causes.

Among young girls and women, insufficient iron intake, frequent pregnancies and chronic health conditions further exacerbate the condition. Maternal anemia not only affects women’s health, but also increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and adverse outcomes for newborns.

Dr. Shabina Raza, Country Director of Nutrition International, emphasized the long-term consequences of anemia.

“Anemia is a major public health challenge in Pakistan, especially among children and women of reproductive age. It affects cognitive development, school performance and productivity in adulthood, creating a lasting impact on the nation’s economic growth,” she said.

The World Health Assembly (WHA) aims to reduce the prevalence of anemia by 50% by 2025. However, Pakistan faces enormous challenges in achieving this goal. The report highlights that iron deficiency – a leading cause of anemia – continues to undermine productivity and maternal health outcomes.

“The loss of human capital due to anemia represents not only a health crisis but also an economic burden that Pakistan cannot afford to ignore. Addressing anemia through nutrition-focused interventions is critical to building a healthier, more productive society,” said Ministry of National Health Services.

The economic losses associated with anemia reflect decreased cognitive function, decreased school performance, and decreased work output. Iron deficiency anemia alone poses long-term developmental challenges for children and loss of productivity for adults.

While anemia remains one of the most pressing health challenges, the broader costs of malnutrition are staggering. The report estimates a $17 billion annual economic toll from malnutrition, representing 4.6% of Pakistan’s gross national income (GNI).

Stunting accounts for the largest share, with an economic impact of $16 billion annually, or 4.2% of GDP. Low birth weight contributes an additional $7.1 billion to the economic burden, creating long-term challenges for human capital development and national growth.