Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in South Asia
South Asia: Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height was 4.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in South Asia, 2000–2024
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
South Asia recorded 4.9% for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in South Asia peaked at 5.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 2024.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.6% | — |
| 2001 | 5.5% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 5.5% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 5.5% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 5.4% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 5.4% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 5.4% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 5.3% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 5.3% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 5.3% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 5.3% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 5.2% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 5.2% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 5.2% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 5.2% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 5.1% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 5.1% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 5.0% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 5.0% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 4.9% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 4.9% | 5.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More health data for South Asia
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, male, annual growth rate 0.1112 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per capita 0.0146 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.043 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, annual growth rate 2.63 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in South Asia?
- Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in South Asia was 4.9% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 2024.
- How does South Asia rank for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height?
- South Asia ranks 1st out of 14 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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.