Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Gambia
Gambia: Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height was 0.6% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Gambia, 2000–2020
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
Gambia recorded 0.6% for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 40.0% on the previous year and down 71.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Gambia peaked at 4.3% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2020.
Gambia ranks 62nd of 85 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.5% | — |
| 2006 | 1.8% | -28.0% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | +16.7% |
| 2012 | 1.6% | -23.8% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | +168.7% |
| 2018 | 1.0% | -76.7% |
| 2020 | 0.6% | -40.0% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 0.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.3%, 46% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 0.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.2%, 48% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | 1.0% | 4.3% | 4 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 62 Azerbaijan 0.6% compare
- 62 Kenya 0.6% compare
- 62 Türkiye 0.6% compare
- 62 Palestine, State of 0.6% compare
More health data for Gambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,044 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 700 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9696 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0686 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9636 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Gambia?
- Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Gambia was 0.6% in 2020, 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.3% in 2013.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2020.
- How does Gambia rank for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height?
- Gambia ranks 62nd out of 85 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 71.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia 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.