Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in Africa (WHO region)
Africa (WHO region): Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard was 7.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
7.2%
Change on year
down 0.3%
Rank
6th
of 11 groups
All-time high
11.1%
in 1980
All-time low
7.2%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in Africa (WHO region), 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in Africa (WHO region) is 7.2%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in Africa (WHO region) peaked at 11.1% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 7.2%, in 2024.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.
Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in Africa (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 11.1% | — |
| 1981 | 10.9% | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 10.9% | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 10.8% | -0.8% |
| 1984 | 10.7% | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 10.6% | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 10.5% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 10.4% | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 10.3% | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 10.3% | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 10.2% | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 10.1% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 10.0% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 10.0% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 9.9% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 9.8% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 9.6% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 9.5% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 9.4% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 9.3% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 9.1% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 9.0% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 8.8% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 8.7% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 8.6% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 8.4% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 8.3% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 8.2% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 8.1% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 7.9% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 7.7% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 7.7% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 7.6% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 7.5% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 7.5% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 7.4% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 7.4% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 7.3% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 7.3% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 7.3% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 7.3% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 7.2% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.6% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.8% | 9.3% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.5% | 8.0% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.6% | 7.4% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.3% | 7.2% | 7.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa (WHO region)
More health data for Africa (WHO region)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 12,202 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,578 (2025)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1,654 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 179,400 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,261 (2025)
- Number of neonatal deaths, annual growth rate -0.0365 % change on previous year (2024)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -8.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 160.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 23.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases 20,578 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in Africa (WHO region)?
- Thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in Africa (WHO region) was 7.2% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard recorded in Africa (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 11.1% in 1980.
- What is the lowest thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard recorded in Africa (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.2% in 2024.
- How does Africa (WHO region) rank for thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard?
- Africa (WHO region) ranks 6th out of 11 groups with data for 2024.
- Is thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard rising or falling in Africa (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa (WHO region) data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard deviations below the median (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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