Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 3.6% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height 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
Afghanistan recorded 3.6% for prevalence of wasting, weight for height in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 62.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Afghanistan peaked at 17.3% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 2022.
Afghanistan ranks 54th of 99 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 17.3% | — |
| 2004 | 9.1% | -47.4% |
| 2013 | 9.5% | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 5.1% | -46.3% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | -29.4% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 3.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.3%, 57% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 3.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.5%, 1.0× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.3% | 17.3% | 17.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 9.1% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 7.3% | 5.1% | 9.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 51 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 4.1% compare
- 52 Saudi Arabia 3.9% compare
- 53 Mozambique 3.8% compare
- 54 South Africa 3.6% compare
- 56 Azerbaijan 3.5% compare
- 56 Kuwait 3.5% compare
- 56 Romania 3.5% compare
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 in Afghanistan?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Afghanistan was 3.6% 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 recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 17.3% in 1997.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 2022.
- How does Afghanistan rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- Afghanistan ranks 54th out of 99 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.1%. 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 (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of wasting is the proportion of children 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.