2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 (%) in South Korea

South Korea: 2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 (%) was 0.2 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
0.2
Change on year
down 77.8%
World rank
61st
of 62 countries
All-time high
0.9
in 2003
All-time low
0.2
in 2020
Years of data
6
2003–2020

2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in South Korea, 2003–2020

0.20.40.60.812003201120202003: 0.92008: 0.62011: 0.52014: 0.62017: 0.92020: 0.2

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

South Korea recorded 0.2 for 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.

That represents a change of down 77.8% on the previous year and down 60.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in South Korea peaked at 0.9 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.2, in 2020.

South Korea ranks 61st of 62 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 (%) in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for 2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 (%) in South Korea, 2003 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2003 0.9 —
2008 0.6 -33.3%
2011 0.5 -16.7%
2014 0.6 +20.0%
2017 0.9 +50.0%
2020 0.2 -77.8%

South Korea compared with similar countries

  • South Korea's 0.2 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.85, 11% of the median. (8 countries reporting)
  • South Korea's 0.2 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.8, 3% of the median. (11 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.75 0.6 0.9 2
2010s 0.6667 0.5 0.9 3
2020s 0.2 0.2 0.2 1

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 58 Guatemala 0.8 compare
  2. 59 Peru 0.4 compare
  3. 60 Chile 0.3 compare
  4. 62 United States 0.1 compare

See the full ranking of 62 places →

More health data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in South Korea?
2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in South Korea was 0.2 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 0.9 in 2003.
What is the lowest 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 0.2 in 2020.
How does South Korea rank for 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5?
South Korea ranks 61st out of 62 countries with data for 2020.
Is 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 60.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of 2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/2-2-2a-prevalence-of-wasting-among-children-under-5-percent/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 (%)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
62 places, 500 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed