Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) was 18.36 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
18.36
World rank
18th
of 95 countries
All-time high
44.9
in 1997
All-time low
18.36
in 2022
Years of data
5
1997–2022
Weight-for-age <-2 SD in Afghanistan, 1997–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 18.36 for weight-for-age <-2 sd in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-age <-2 sd in Afghanistan peaked at 44.9 in 1997 and was at its lowest, 18.36, in 2022.
That places Afghanistan 18th out of 95 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 44.9 | — |
| 2004 | 31.7 | -29.4% |
| 2013 | 24.64 | -22.3% |
| 2018 | 19.07 | -22.6% |
| 2022 | 18.36 | -3.7% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 18.36 is above the median for low income countries, which is 16.94, 1.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 18.36 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.82, 4.8× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44.9 | 44.9 | 44.9 | 1 |
| 2000s | 31.7 | 31.7 | 31.7 | 1 |
| 2010s | 21.86 | 19.07 | 24.64 | 2 |
| 2020s | 18.36 | 18.36 | 18.36 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 14,735 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0804 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is weight-for-age <-2 sd in Afghanistan?
- Weight-for-age <-2 sd in Afghanistan was 18.36 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 44.9 in 1997.
- What is the lowest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.36 in 2022.
- How does Afghanistan rank for weight-for-age <-2 sd?
- Afghanistan ranks 18th out of 95 countries with data for 2022.
- Is weight-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).