Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in United States
United States: Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height was 0.0% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in United States, 1991–2018
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
United States recorded 0.0% for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of down 100.0% on the previous year and down 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in United States peaked at 0.2% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2002.
United States ranks 84th of 85 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in United States, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.1% | — |
| 2000 | 0.1% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2004 | 0.0% | — |
| 2006 | 0.2% | — |
| 2008 | 0.1% | -50.0% |
| 2010 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2012 | 0.0% | — |
| 2014 | 0.0% | — |
| 2016 | 0.1% | — |
| 2018 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.6%. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 5 |
| 2010s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % 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 United States?
- Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in United States was 0.0% in 2018, 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2% in 2006.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2002.
- How does United States rank for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height?
- United States ranks 84th out of 85 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.