Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Thailand
Thailand: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 7.2% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Thailand, 1987–2022
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Thailand is 7.2%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Thailand peaked at 7.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 4.7%, in 2006.
Thailand ranks 25th of 99 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Thailand, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 6.1% | — |
| 1993 | 7.3% | +19.7% |
| 1995 | 6.7% | -8.2% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | -29.9% |
| 2012 | 6.7% | +42.6% |
| 2016 | 5.4% | -19.4% |
| 2019 | 7.7% | +42.6% |
| 2022 | 7.2% | -6.5% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 7.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.0%, 2.4× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 7.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7.2%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 7.0% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 6.6% | 5.4% | 7.7% | 3 |
| 2020s | 7.2% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
- 24 Myanmar 7.4% compare
- 25 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 7.2% compare
- 25 Madagascar 7.2% compare
- 28 Pakistan 7.1% compare
More health data for Thailand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.6 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0316 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,582 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 677 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.01 % 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 0.0201 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.97 % 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 Thailand?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Thailand was 7.2% 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 7.7% in 2019.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.7% in 2006.
- How does Thailand rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- Thailand ranks 25th out of 99 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Thailand 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.