Weight-for-height <-2 SD (wasting) in Ghana
Ghana: Weight-for-height <-2 SD was 5.8 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
5.8
World rank
35th
of 98 countries
All-time high
12.3
in 1993
All-time low
4.7
in 2014
Years of data
11
1988–2022
Weight-for-height <-2 SD in Ghana, 1988–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for weight-for-height <-2 sd in Ghana is 5.8, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-height <-2 sd in Ghana peaked at 12.3 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 4.7, in 2014.
Ghana ranks 35th of 98 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-height <-2 SD in Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 9.14 | — |
| 1993 | 12.3 | +34.6% |
| 1997 | 8.17 | -33.5% |
| 1998 | 9.88 | +20.9% |
| 2003 | 8.38 | -15.2% |
| 2006 | 5.96 | -28.9% |
| 2008 | 8.69 | +45.8% |
| 2011 | 6.22 | -28.4% |
| 2014 | 4.7 | -24.4% |
| 2017 | 6.82 | +45.1% |
| 2022 | 5.8 | -15.0% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 5.8 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1, 1.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 5.8 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.56, 1.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.14 | 9.14 | 9.14 | 1 |
| 1990s | 10.12 | 8.17 | 12.3 | 3 |
| 2000s | 7.68 | 5.96 | 8.69 | 3 |
| 2010s | 5.91 | 4.7 | 6.82 | 3 |
| 2020s | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 32 Guinea 6.41 compare
- 33 Tajikistan 6.4 compare
- 34 Sierra Leone 6.31 compare
- 36 Togo 5.72 compare
- 37 Philippines 5.4 compare
- 38 Mali 5.4 compare
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5623 % 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 0.06 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is weight-for-height <-2 sd in Ghana?
- Weight-for-height <-2 sd in Ghana was 5.8 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-height <-2 sd recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 12.3 in 1993.
- What is the lowest weight-for-height <-2 sd recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.7 in 2014.
- How does Ghana rank for weight-for-height <-2 sd?
- Ghana ranks 35th out of 98 countries with data for 2022.
- Is weight-for-height <-2 sd rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Weight-for-height <-2 SD (wasting). 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).