Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Egypt
Egypt: Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height was 1.5% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Egypt, 1988–2021
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
In 2021, prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Egypt stood at 1.5%.
The figure is down 60.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Egypt peaked at 4.8% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1988.
Egypt ranks 26th of 85 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Egypt, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 0.7% | — |
| 1991 | 2.3% | +228.6% |
| 1992 | 1.8% | -21.7% |
| 1995 | 2.3% | +27.8% |
| 2003 | 1.8% | -21.7% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | +38.9% |
| 2008 | 3.8% | +52.0% |
| 2014 | 4.8% | +26.3% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | -68.8% |
Egypt compared with similar countries
- Egypt's 1.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.3%, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Egypt's 1.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.3%, 1.2× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 3 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 1.8% | 3.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 1 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
- 26 Chad 1.5% compare
- 26 Guinea-Bissau 1.5% compare
- 26 Madagascar 1.5% compare
- 26 Timor-Leste 1.5% compare
- 26 Zambia 1.5% compare
More health data for Egypt
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.46 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7884 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 946 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 7,225 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.3993 % 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 0.0487 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.4524 % 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 in Egypt?
- Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Egypt was 1.5% 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 recorded in Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was 4.8% in 2014.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1988.
- How does Egypt rank for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height?
- Egypt ranks 26th out of 85 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Egypt 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.