Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Burundi
Burundi: Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height was 2.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Burundi, 1987–2024
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 in Burundi is 2.1%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 61.5% on the previous year and down 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Burundi peaked at 3.4% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2018.
That places Burundi 14th out of 85 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Burundi, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1.9% | — |
| 2000 | 1.6% | -15.8% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | -12.5% |
| 2012 | 3.4% | +142.9% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | -73.5% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -11.1% |
| 2019 | 1.0% | +25.0% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | -10.0% |
| 2022 | 1.4% | +55.6% |
| 2023 | 1.3% | -7.1% |
| 2024 | 2.1% | +61.5% |
Burundi compared with similar countries
- Burundi's 2.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.3%, 1.6× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Burundi's 2.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.2%, 1.7× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.5% | 0.8% | 3.4% | 5 |
| 2020s | 1.4% | 0.9% | 2.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Burundi
More health data for Burundi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 929.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,143 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 26 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.736 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0759 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.7548 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Burundi?
- Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Burundi was 2.1% in 2024, 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 recorded in Burundi?
- The highest recorded value was 3.4% in 2012.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height recorded in Burundi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2018.
- How does Burundi rank for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height?
- Burundi ranks 14th out of 85 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Burundi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Burundi 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 (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of severe wasting is the proportion of children 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.