Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Kenya
Kenya: Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) was 9.83 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
9.83
World rank
48th
of 95 countries
All-time high
19.41
in 1993
All-time low
9.83
in 2022
Years of data
11
1993–2022
Weight-for-age <-2 SD in Kenya, 1993–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for weight-for-age <-2 sd in Kenya is 9.83, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is down 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-age <-2 sd in Kenya peaked at 19.41 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 9.83, in 2022.
Kenya ranks 48th of 95 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 19.41 | — |
| 1994 | 17.87 | -7.9% |
| 1998 | 17.8 | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 17.09 | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 16.44 | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 18 | +9.5% |
| 2008 | 16.46 | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 12.4 | -24.6% |
| 2014 | 11.22 | -9.5% |
| 2016 | 13.03 | +16.2% |
| 2022 | 9.83 | -24.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 9.83 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.82, 83% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 9.83 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.29, 69% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.36 | 17.8 | 19.41 | 3 |
| 2000s | 17 | 16.44 | 18 | 4 |
| 2010s | 12.22 | 11.22 | 13.03 | 3 |
| 2020s | 9.83 | 9.83 | 9.83 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 16,059 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (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 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.063 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is weight-for-age <-2 sd in Kenya?
- Weight-for-age <-2 sd in Kenya was 9.83 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 19.41 in 1993.
- What is the lowest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.83 in 2022.
- How does Kenya rank for weight-for-age <-2 sd?
- Kenya ranks 48th out of 95 countries with data for 2022.
- Is weight-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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 — 11 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).