Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 3.6% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in South Africa, 1994–2017
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 South Africa is 3.6%, measured in 2017.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 44.0% on the previous year and down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in South Africa peaked at 5.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 2016.
That places South Africa 54th out of 99 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 3.3% | — |
| 1999 | 4.5% | +36.4% |
| 2008 | 5.4% | +20.0% |
| 2015 | 3.4% | -37.0% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | -26.5% |
| 2017 | 3.6% | +44.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.0%, 1.2× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 65% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.9% | 3.3% | 4.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 2.5% | 3.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 51 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 4.1% compare
- 52 Saudi Arabia 3.9% compare
- 53 Mozambique 3.8% compare
- 54 Afghanistan 3.6% compare
- 56 Azerbaijan 3.5% compare
- 56 Kuwait 3.5% compare
- 56 Romania 3.5% compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % 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 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % 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 South Africa?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in South Africa was 3.6% in 2017, 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 2016.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- South Africa ranks 54th out of 99 countries with data for 2017.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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.