Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Ecuador
Ecuador: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 0.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Ecuador, 1986–2024
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 wasting, weight for height in Ecuador is 0.7%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is down 22.2% on the previous year and down 56.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Ecuador peaked at 2.7% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2024.
That places Ecuador 94th out of 99 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Ecuador, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 2.3% | — |
| 1999 | 2.7% | +17.4% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -25.9% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | +14.3% |
| 2014 | 1.6% | -33.3% |
| 2023 | 0.9% | -43.8% |
| 2024 | 0.7% | -22.2% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 0.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.0%, 24% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 0.7% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1.9%, 37% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.6% | 2.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More health data for Ecuador
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6766 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,324 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 354 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.67 % 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 0.0362 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.67 % 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 Ecuador?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Ecuador was 0.7% in 2024, 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 Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 2.7% in 1999.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2024.
- How does Ecuador rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- Ecuador ranks 94th out of 99 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ecuador 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.