Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Gambia
Gambia: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 5.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Gambia, 2000–2020
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 2020, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Gambia stood at 5.1%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 17.7% on the previous year and down 46.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Gambia peaked at 11.0% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 5.1%, in 2020.
That places Gambia 40th out of 99 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.1% | — |
| 2006 | 7.4% | -18.7% |
| 2010 | 9.5% | +28.4% |
| 2012 | 9.5% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 11.0% | +15.8% |
| 2018 | 6.2% | -43.6% |
| 2020 | 5.1% | -17.7% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 5.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.3%, 81% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 5.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 92% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.2% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.1% | 6.2% | 11.0% | 4 |
| 2020s | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More health data for Gambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,044 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 700 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9696 % 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 0.0686 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9636 % 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 in Gambia?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Gambia was 5.1% in 2020, 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 11.0% in 2013.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.1% in 2020.
- How does Gambia rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- Gambia ranks 40th out of 99 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gambia 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.