Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Yemen
Yemen: Prevalence of wasting, weight for height was 16.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Yemen, 1991–2022
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 Yemen stood at 16.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 68.0% on the previous year and up 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Yemen peaked at 17.4% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 10.0%, in 2021.
Yemen ranks 2nd of 99 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Yemen, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 14.1% | — |
| 1996 | 17.4% | +23.4% |
| 1997 | 16.5% | -5.2% |
| 2003 | 15.3% | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 13.8% | -9.8% |
| 2011 | 13.3% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 16.4% | +23.3% |
| 2021 | 10.0% | -39.0% |
| 2022 | 16.8% | +68.0% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 16.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 6.3%, 2.7× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 16.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.5%, 4.7× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.0% | 14.1% | 17.4% | 3 |
| 2000s | 14.6% | 13.8% | 15.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.8% | 13.3% | 16.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 13.4% | 10.0% | 16.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
More health data for Yemen
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 9,603 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 103 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.88 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0766 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Yemen?
- Prevalence of wasting, weight for height in Yemen was 16.8% 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 Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 17.4% in 1996.
- What is the lowest prevalence of wasting, weight for height recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.0% in 2021.
- How does Yemen rank for prevalence of wasting, weight for height?
- Yemen ranks 2nd out of 99 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of wasting, weight for height rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Yemen 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.