Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Liberia
Liberia: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 3.4% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Liberia, 2000–2019
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 Liberia is 3.4%, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 20.9% on the previous year and down 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Liberia peaked at 7.9% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 2019.
That places Liberia 59th out of 99 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Liberia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.4% | — |
| 2007 | 7.9% | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 4.3% | -45.6% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 5.6% | +40.0% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | -23.2% |
| 2019 | 3.4% | -20.9% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 3.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.3%, 54% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 3.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 61% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.5% | 4.3% | 7.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 3.4% | 5.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
More health data for Liberia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.57 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7528 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,097 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,457 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.13 % 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 0.068 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.13 % 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 Liberia?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Liberia was 3.4% in 2019, 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 Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.9% in 2007.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 2019.
- How does Liberia rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- Liberia ranks 59th out of 99 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Liberia 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.