Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female in Benin
Benin: Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female was 2.2% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female in Benin, 1996–2021
Source: UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children'. Measured in % of children under 5.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female in Benin is 2.2%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 175.0% on the previous year and up 175.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female in Benin peaked at 4.6% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2014.
Benin ranks 8th of 84 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female in Benin, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 4.6% | — |
| 2001 | 2.5% | -45.7% |
| 2008 | 0.8% | -68.0% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | -12.5% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | +14.3% |
| 2021 | 2.2% | +175.0% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 2.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.9%, 2.3× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Benin's 2.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.9%, 2.4× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 1.6% | 0.8% | 2.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Benin
- 5 Lao People's Democratic Republic 2.7% compare
- 6 Nigeria 2.6% compare
- 7 Sierra Leone 2.4% compare
- 9 Mauritania 2.1% compare
- 9 Pakistan 2.1% compare
- 11 Cambodia 2.0% compare
- 11 Russian Federation 2.0% compare
More health data for Benin
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8458 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,002 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 13,632 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 21 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.21 % 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 0.0741 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.24 % 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 prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female in Benin?
- Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female in Benin was 2.2% in 2021, according to UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children'.
- What is the highest prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 4.6% in 1996.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2014.
- How does Benin rank for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female?
- Benin ranks 8th out of 84 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 175.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children', published as part of Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height, female (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of severe wasting, female, is the proportion of girls under age 5 whose weight for height is more than three standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months.