Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in China
China: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 1.9% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in China, 1987–2017
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 2017, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in China stood at 1.9%. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 26.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in China peaked at 5.0% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2013.
China ranks 80th of 99 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in China, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 4.8% | — |
| 1990 | 4.2% | -12.5% |
| 1992 | 3.9% | -7.1% |
| 1995 | 5.0% | +28.2% |
| 1998 | 2.4% | -52.0% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | +20.0% |
| 2005 | 2.9% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 2.6% | -10.3% |
| 2009 | 2.6% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2.3% | -11.5% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | -17.4% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.0%, 64% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
- China's 1.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7.2%, 26% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 3.9% | 2.4% | 5.0% | 4 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 2.5% | 3.0% | 5 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % 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 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % 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 wasting, weight for height in China?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in China was 1.9% in 2017, 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 5.0% in 1995.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2013.
- How does China rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- China ranks 80th out of 99 countries with data for 2017.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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.