Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Uganda
Uganda: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 3.2% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Uganda, 1988–2022
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
Uganda recorded 3.2% for prevalence of wasting, weight for height in 2022.
The figure is down 11.1% on the previous year and down 23.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Uganda peaked at 6.2% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2018.
That places Uganda 62nd out of 99 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 3.1% | — |
| 1995 | 6.0% | +93.5% |
| 2000 | 5.0% | -16.7% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | +24.0% |
| 2009 | 4.4% | -29.0% |
| 2011 | 4.6% | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 4.2% | -8.7% |
| 2014 | 3.8% | -9.5% |
| 2015 | 5.7% | +50.0% |
| 2016 | 3.5% | -38.6% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | -20.0% |
| 2020 | 3.6% | +28.6% |
| 2022 | 3.2% | -11.1% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 3.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.3%, 51% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 3.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 58% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 5.2% | 4.4% | 6.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.1% | 2.8% | 5.7% | 6 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
- 59 Liberia 3.4% compare
- 60 Egypt 3.3% compare
- 60 Russian Federation 3.3% compare
- 62 Jamaica 3.2% compare
- 64 Kazakhstan 3.1% compare
- 64 Tanzania, United Republic of 3.1% compare
More health data for Uganda
- 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 1.34 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 853.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,666 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 111 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0787 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.34 % 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 Uganda?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Uganda was 3.2% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 6.2% in 2006.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2018.
- How does Uganda rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- Uganda ranks 62nd out of 99 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda 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.