Death rate from malnutrition in United States
United States: Death rate from malnutrition was 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Death rate from malnutrition in United States, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
In 2021, death rate from malnutrition in United States stood at 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.5% on the previous year and up 425.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate from malnutrition in United States peaked at 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.82 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2006.
That places United States 39th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Death rate from malnutrition in United States, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.43 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 1.24 deaths per 100,000 people | -13.3% |
| 2002 | 1.25 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 1.11 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.2% |
| 2004 | 0.99 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.8% |
| 2005 | 1.04 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 0.82 deaths per 100,000 people | -21.2% |
| 2007 | 0.9 deaths per 100,000 people | +9.8% |
| 2008 | 0.93 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 0.9 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 0.93 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 0.99 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.5% |
| 2012 | 0.98 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 1.04 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 1.26 deaths per 100,000 people | +21.2% |
| 2015 | 1.59 deaths per 100,000 people | +26.2% |
| 2016 | 1.93 deaths per 100,000 people | +21.4% |
| 2017 | 2.37 deaths per 100,000 people | +22.8% |
| 2018 | 2.89 deaths per 100,000 people | +21.9% |
| 2019 | 3.48 deaths per 100,000 people | +20.4% |
| 2020 | 4.39 deaths per 100,000 people | +26.1% |
| 2021 | 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people | +18.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.06 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.82 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.43 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.75 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.93 deaths per 100,000 people | 3.48 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.79 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.39 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 36 Tanzania 5.74 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 37 Yemen 5.71 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 38 Philippines 5.32 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 40 Benin 4.92 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 41 Mexico 4.53 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 42 El Salvador 4.49 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -0.7786 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.0833 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -0.7908 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.0877 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is death rate from malnutrition in United States?
- Death rate from malnutrition in United States was 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest death rate from malnutrition recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- What is the lowest death rate from malnutrition recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.82 deaths per 100,000 people in 2006.
- How does United States rank for death rate from malnutrition?
- United States ranks 39th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is death rate from malnutrition rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 425.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Death rate from malnutrition. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from protein-energy malnutrition in both sexes, per 100,000 people.