Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Zambia
Zambia: Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height was 1.5% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Zambia, 1992–2018
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Zambia is 1.5%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 34.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Zambia peaked at 2.5% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2018.
Zambia ranks 26th of 85 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 2.2% | — |
| 1996 | 1.7% | -22.7% |
| 1999 | 2.0% | +17.6% |
| 2002 | 2.3% | +15.0% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2.5% | +8.7% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | -40.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.3%, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Zambia'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 | 2.0% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 3 |
| 2000s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.5% | 2.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 26 Chad 1.5% compare
- 26 Egypt 1.5% compare
- 26 Guinea-Bissau 1.5% compare
- 26 Madagascar 1.5% compare
- 26 Timor-Leste 1.5% compare
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % 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 Zambia?
- Prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height in Zambia was 1.5% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.5% in 2013.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height?
- Zambia ranks 26th out of 85 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of severe wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.