Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Malaysia
Malaysia: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 11.0% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Malaysia, 1999–2022
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
Malaysia recorded 11.0% for prevalence of wasting, weight for height in 2022.
That represents a change of up 13.4% on the previous year and up 35.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Malaysia peaked at 15.3% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 8.1%, in 2015.
Malaysia ranks 7th of 99 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 15.3% | — |
| 2006 | 13.2% | -13.7% |
| 2015 | 8.1% | -38.6% |
| 2016 | 11.6% | +43.2% |
| 2019 | 9.7% | -16.4% |
| 2022 | 11.0% | +13.4% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 11.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.0%, 3.7× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 11.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7.2%, 1.5× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.3% | 15.3% | 15.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 13.2% | 13.2% | 13.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 9.8% | 8.1% | 11.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 11.0% | 11.0% | 11.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 4 Djibouti 12.1% compare
- 5 Nigeria 11.6% compare
- 6 Syrian Arab Republic 11.5% compare
- 8 Niger 10.9% compare
- 9 Bangladesh 10.7% compare
- 9 Lao People's Democratic Republic 10.7% compare
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 652 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 18 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7207 % 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 0.0297 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5991 % 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 Malaysia?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Malaysia was 11.0% in 2022, 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 15.3% in 1999.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.1% in 2015.
- How does Malaysia rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- Malaysia ranks 7th out of 99 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.