Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Iraq
Iraq: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 3.0% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Iraq, 1991–2018
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 2018, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Iraq stood at 3.0%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 48.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Iraq peaked at 6.9% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2018.
Iraq ranks 66th of 99 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.4% | — |
| 2000 | 6.6% | +50.0% |
| 2003 | 5.6% | -15.2% |
| 2004 | 6.9% | +23.2% |
| 2006 | 5.8% | -15.9% |
| 2011 | 6.5% | +12.1% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | -53.8% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 3.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.0%, 1.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 3.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.5%, 85% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 6.2% | 5.6% | 6.9% | 4 |
| 2010s | 4.8% | 3.0% | 6.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 64 Kazakhstan 3.1% compare
- 64 Tanzania, United Republic of 3.1% compare
- 66 Kyrgyzstan 3.0% compare
- 68 El Salvador 2.9% compare
- 69 Algeria 2.7% compare
- 69 Mongolia 2.7% compare
More health data for Iraq
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.4 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 898.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 5,830 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.988 % 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 0.0587 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9818 % 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 Iraq?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Iraq was 3.0% in 2018, 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 6.9% in 2004.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2018.
- How does Iraq rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- Iraq ranks 66th out of 99 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iraq 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.