Prevalence of wasting, weight for height, female in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height, female was 5.7% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height, female in Sierra Leone, 2000–2021
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
In 2021, prevalence of wasting, weight for height, female in Sierra Leone stood at 5.7%.
The figure is up 9.6% on the previous year and down 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height, female in Sierra Leone peaked at 10.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2014.
Sierra Leone ranks 30th of 86 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height, female in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10.5% | — |
| 2005 | 8.6% | -18.1% |
| 2010 | 6.7% | -22.1% |
| 2014 | 3.7% | -44.8% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | +51.4% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | -7.1% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | +9.6% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 5.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.1%, 1.1× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 5.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.0%, 1.1× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.6% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.3% | 3.7% | 6.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,199 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,209 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % 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 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % 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 wasting, weight for height, female in Sierra Leone?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height, female in Sierra Leone was 5.7% 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 wasting, weight for height, female recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 10.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height, female recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2014.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height, female?
- Sierra Leone ranks 30th out of 86 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height, female rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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 wasting, weight for height, female (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of wasting, female, is the proportion of girls under age 5 whose weight for height is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months.