Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) was 21.22 in 2019. ▼ Falling
Latest (2019)
21.22
Change on year
down 9.9%
World rank
13th
of 95 countries
All-time high
41.9
in 1992
All-time low
21.22
in 2019
Years of data
7
1992–2019
Weight-for-age <-2 SD in Ethiopia, 1992–2019
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2019, weight-for-age <-2 sd in Ethiopia stood at 21.22. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 9.9% on the previous year and down 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-age <-2 sd in Ethiopia peaked at 41.9 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 21.22, in 2019.
That places Ethiopia 13th out of 95 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 41.9 | — |
| 2000 | 41.84 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 34.26 | -18.1% |
| 2011 | 29.2 | -14.8% |
| 2014 | 26.55 | -9.1% |
| 2016 | 23.54 | -11.3% |
| 2019 | 21.22 | -9.9% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 21.22 is above the median for low income countries, which is 16.94, 1.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 21.22 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.29, 1.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.9 | 41.9 | 41.9 | 1 |
| 2000s | 38.05 | 34.26 | 41.84 | 2 |
| 2010s | 25.13 | 21.22 | 29.2 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 10 Madagascar 22.62 compare
- 11 Mauritania 22.4 compare
- 12 Bangladesh 21.68 compare
- 14 Benin 19.64 compare
- 15 Myanmar 19.5 compare
- 16 Guinea-Bissau 18.83 compare
More health data for Ethiopia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9494 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 19,997 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 148 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.34 % 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 0.0709 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0742 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is weight-for-age <-2 sd in Ethiopia?
- Weight-for-age <-2 sd in Ethiopia was 21.22 in 2019, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 41.9 in 1992.
- What is the lowest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.22 in 2019.
- How does Ethiopia rank for weight-for-age <-2 sd?
- Ethiopia ranks 13th out of 95 countries with data for 2019.
- Is weight-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 — 7 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).