Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Zambia
Zambia: Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) was 11.82 in 2018. ▼ Falling
Latest (2018)
11.82
World rank
39th
of 95 countries
All-time high
23.22
in 2002
All-time low
11.82
in 2018
Years of data
7
1992–2018
Weight-for-age <-2 SD in Zambia, 1992–2018
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2018, weight-for-age <-2 sd in Zambia stood at 11.82. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-age <-2 sd in Zambia peaked at 23.22 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 11.82, in 2018.
Zambia ranks 39th of 95 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 21.22 | — |
| 1996 | 19.6 | -7.6% |
| 1999 | 18.9 | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 23.22 | +22.8% |
| 2007 | 14.9 | -35.8% |
| 2013 | 14.88 | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 11.82 | -20.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 11.82 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.82, 1.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 11.82 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.29, 83% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.91 | 18.9 | 21.22 | 3 |
| 2000s | 19.06 | 14.9 | 23.22 | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.35 | 11.82 | 14.88 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 8,894 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % 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 0.0744 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is weight-for-age <-2 sd in Zambia?
- Weight-for-age <-2 sd in Zambia was 11.82 in 2018, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.22 in 2002.
- What is the lowest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.82 in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for weight-for-age <-2 sd?
- Zambia ranks 39th out of 95 countries with data for 2018.
- Is weight-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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).