Percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, BMI < -2 in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, BMI < -2 was 3.32 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
3.32
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
112th
of 193 countries
All-time high
17.07
in 1990
All-time low
3.32
in 2022
Years of data
33
1990–2022
Percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, BMI < -2 in South Africa, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 3.32 for percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, bmi < -2 in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 28.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, bmi < -2 in South Africa peaked at 17.07 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 3.32, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 112th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, BMI < -2 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 17.07 | — |
| 1991 | 16.96 | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 16.78 | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 16.49 | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 16.1 | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 15.62 | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 15.04 | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 14.39 | -4.3% |
| 1998 | 13.66 | -5.1% |
| 1999 | 12.88 | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 12.05 | -6.4% |
| 2001 | 11.18 | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 10.3 | -7.9% |
| 2003 | 9.44 | -8.3% |
| 2004 | 8.63 | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 7.88 | -8.7% |
| 2006 | 7.2 | -8.6% |
| 2007 | 6.59 | -8.5% |
| 2008 | 6.05 | -8.2% |
| 2009 | 5.6 | -7.4% |
| 2010 | 5.22 | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 4.89 | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 4.61 | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 4.37 | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 4.18 | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 4.02 | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 3.88 | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 3.77 | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 3.66 | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 3.57 | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 3.48 | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 3.39 | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 3.32 | -2.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.32 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.63, 91% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.32 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.33, 45% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.5 | 12.88 | 17.07 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.49 | 5.6 | 12.05 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.22 | 3.57 | 5.22 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4 | 3.32 | 3.48 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 109 United Arab Emirates 3.44 compare
- 110 Sierra Leone 3.41 compare
- 111 Russian Federation 3.34 compare
- 112 Czechia 3.32 compare
- 114 Republic of Moldova 3.3 compare
- 115 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3.23 compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, bmi < -2 in South Africa?
- Percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, bmi < -2 in South Africa was 3.32 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, bmi < -2 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17.07 in 1990.
- What is the lowest percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, bmi < -2 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.32 in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, bmi < -2?
- South Africa ranks 112th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, bmi < -2 rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, BMI < -2 standard deviations below the median (crude estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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