2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: 2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 was 4.4 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
4.4
Change on year
down 10.2%
World rank
32nd
of 62 countries
All-time high
11.8
in 2004
All-time low
4.3
in 2018
Years of data
7
2004–2020

2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in Saudi Arabia, 2004–2020

02.557.51012.52004201220202004: 11.82015: 5.52016: 4.62017: 5.12018: 4.32019: 4.92020: 4.4

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

Saudi Arabia recorded 4.4 for 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.2% on the previous year and down 20.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in Saudi Arabia peaked at 11.8 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 4.3, in 2018.

That places Saudi Arabia 32nd out of 62 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in Saudi Arabia, year by year

Annual values for 2.2.2a Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 (%) in Saudi Arabia, 2004 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2004 11.8
2015 5.5 -53.4%
2016 4.6 -16.4%
2017 5.1 +10.9%
2018 4.3 -15.7%
2019 4.9 +14.0%
2020 4.4 -10.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11.8 11.8 11.8 1
2010s 4.88 4.3 5.5 5
2020s 4.4 4.4 4.4 1

Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia

  1. 29 Burundi 4.9 compare
  2. 29 Kenya 4.9 compare
  3. 31 Viet Nam 4.7 compare
  4. 33 Cameroon 4.3 compare
  5. 34 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 4.1 compare
  6. 35 Mozambique 3.9 compare

See the full ranking of 62 places →

More health data for Saudi Arabia

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in Saudi Arabia?
2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in Saudi Arabia was 4.4 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The highest recorded value was 11.8 in 2004.
What is the lowest 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The lowest recorded value was 4.3 in 2018.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5?
Saudi Arabia ranks 32nd out of 62 countries with data for 2020.
Is 2.2.2a prevalence of wasting among children under 5 rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
Over the last ten years it is down 20.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/2-2-2a-prevalence-of-wasting-among-children-under-5-percent/saudi-arabia/

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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