Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Pakistan
Pakistan: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 7.1% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Pakistan, 1986–2018
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Pakistan is 7.1%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 52.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Pakistan peaked at 24.0% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 2018.
That places Pakistan 28th out of 99 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 24.0% | — |
| 1991 | 12.5% | -47.9% |
| 1992 | 17.2% | +37.6% |
| 2001 | 14.1% | -18.0% |
| 2011 | 14.9% | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 10.5% | -29.5% |
| 2018 | 7.1% | -32.4% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 7.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1%, 1.4× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 7.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.5%, 2.0× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 24.0% | 24.0% | 24.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 14.8% | 12.5% | 17.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 14.1% | 14.1% | 14.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 10.8% | 7.1% | 14.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More health data for Pakistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.14 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8219 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 944.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 55,286 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 335 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5028 % 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 0.0616 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.4109 % 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 Pakistan?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Pakistan was 7.1% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 24.0% in 1986.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 2018.
- How does Pakistan rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- Pakistan ranks 28th out of 99 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.