Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Lesotho
Lesotho: Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height was 0.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Lesotho, 2004–2024
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
In 2024, prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Lesotho stood at 0.2%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 66.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Lesotho peaked at 2.2% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2024.
Lesotho ranks 75th of 85 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2.2% | — |
| 2009 | 1.5% | -31.8% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | -60.0% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | +33.3% |
| 2024 | 0.2% | -75.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 0.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.3%, 15% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 0.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.2%, 16% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.9% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More health data for Lesotho
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4669 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,227 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 382 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2020)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.8108 % 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 0.0548 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7473 % 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 Lesotho?
- Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Lesotho was 0.2% 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 2.2% in 2004.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height?
- Lesotho ranks 75th out of 85 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 66.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.