Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Thailand
Thailand: Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height was 2.5% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Thailand, 1987–2022
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Thailand is 2.5%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 7.4% on the previous year and up 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Thailand peaked at 2.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1987.
That places Thailand 7th out of 85 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Thailand, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 0.9% | — |
| 2006 | 1.4% | +55.6% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | +57.1% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | -36.4% |
| 2019 | 2.7% | +92.9% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | -7.4% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 2.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.7%, 3.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 2.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.0%, 2.5× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 2.1% | 1.4% | 2.7% | 3 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
- 5 Lao People's Democratic Republic 2.7% compare
- 6 Mauritania 2.6% compare
- 8 Benin 2.4% compare
- 8 Cambodia 2.4% compare
- 8 Côte d'Ivoire 2.4% compare
- 8 Pakistan 2.4% compare
- 8 Sierra Leone 2.4% compare
More health data for Thailand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.6 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0316 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,582 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 677 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.01 % 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 0.0201 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.97 % 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 Thailand?
- Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Thailand was 2.5% in 2022, 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 2.7% in 2019.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1987.
- How does Thailand rank for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height?
- Thailand ranks 7th out of 85 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Thailand 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.