Prevalence of wasting, weight for height, male in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height, male was 3.7% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height, male in Afghanistan, 1997–2022
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
In 2022, prevalence of wasting, weight for height, male in Afghanistan stood at 3.7%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 64.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height, male in Afghanistan peaked at 18.6% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2022.
That places Afghanistan 51st out of 86 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height, male in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 18.6% | — |
| 2004 | 8.6% | -53.8% |
| 2013 | 10.3% | +19.8% |
| 2018 | 6.1% | -40.8% |
| 2022 | 3.7% | -39.3% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 3.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 7.0%, 53% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 3.7% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.0%, 94% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.6% | 18.6% | 18.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 8.2% | 6.1% | 10.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of wasting, weight for height, male in Afghanistan?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height, male in Afghanistan was 3.7% 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 wasting, weight for height, male recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 18.6% in 1997.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height, male recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2022.
- How does Afghanistan rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height, male?
- Afghanistan ranks 51st out of 86 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height, male rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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, male (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of wasting, male, is the proportion of boys 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.