Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Mozambique
Mozambique: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 3.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Mozambique, 1995–2022
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
In 2022, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Mozambique stood at 3.8%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 37.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Mozambique peaked at 9.6% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 2022.
Mozambique ranks 53rd of 99 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Mozambique, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 9.6% | — |
| 1997 | 9.5% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 8.1% | -14.7% |
| 2003 | 5.4% | -33.3% |
| 2008 | 4.2% | -22.2% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | +45.2% |
| 2015 | 4.4% | -27.9% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | -11.4% |
| 2022 | 3.8% | -2.6% |
Mozambique compared with similar countries
- Mozambique's 3.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.3%, 60% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Mozambique's 3.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 68% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.6% | 9.5% | 9.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.9% | 4.2% | 8.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 4.4% | 6.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Mozambique
- 50 Zambia 4.2% compare
- 51 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 4.1% compare
- 52 Saudi Arabia 3.9% compare
- 54 Afghanistan 3.6% compare
- 54 South Africa 3.6% compare
- 56 Azerbaijan 3.5% compare
- 56 Kuwait 3.5% compare
- 56 Romania 3.5% compare
More health data for Mozambique
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.85 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.16 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 869.7 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 18,288 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 139 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.92 % 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 0.0823 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.92 % 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 Mozambique?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Mozambique was 3.8% 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 Mozambique?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 1995.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in Mozambique?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 2022.
- How does Mozambique rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- Mozambique ranks 53rd out of 99 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Mozambique?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mozambique 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.