Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Madagascar
Madagascar: Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height was 1.5% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Madagascar, 1992–2021
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
Madagascar recorded 1.5% for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in 2021.
The figure is up 50.0% on the previous year and up 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Madagascar peaked at 5.6% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2012.
That places Madagascar 26th out of 85 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1.2% | — |
| 1997 | 2.4% | +100.0% |
| 2004 | 5.6% | +133.3% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | -82.1% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | -10.0% |
| 2018 | 1.0% | +11.1% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | +50.0% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 1.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.3%, 1.2× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 1.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.2%, 1.2× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.8% | 1.2% | 2.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 3 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
- 26 Chad 1.5% compare
- 26 Egypt 1.5% compare
- 26 Guinea-Bissau 1.5% compare
- 26 Timor-Leste 1.5% compare
- 26 Zambia 1.5% compare
More health data for Madagascar
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.87 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4912 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 920.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,569 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 63 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.32 % 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 0.071 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.3 % 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 Madagascar?
- Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Madagascar 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 Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2004.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2012.
- How does Madagascar rank for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height?
- Madagascar ranks 26th out of 85 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Madagascar 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.