Weight-for-height <-2 SD (wasting) in India
India: Weight-for-height <-2 SD was 18.75 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
18.75
Change on year
up 10.9%
World rank
1st
of 98 countries
All-time high
20.78
in 2015
All-time low
15.1
in 2014
Years of data
10
1989–2020
Weight-for-height <-2 SD in India, 1989–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for weight-for-height <-2 sd in India is 18.75, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 10.9% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-height <-2 sd in India peaked at 20.78 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 15.1, in 2014.
That places India 1st out of 98 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Weight-for-height <-2 SD in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 20.3 | — |
| 1991 | 20 | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 19.8 | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 18.4 | -7.1% |
| 1999 | 17.9 | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 20.03 | +11.9% |
| 2014 | 15.1 | -24.6% |
| 2015 | 20.78 | +37.6% |
| 2017 | 16.9 | -18.7% |
| 2020 | 18.75 | +10.9% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 18.75 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1, 3.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- India's 18.75 is above the median for South Asia, which is 9.22, 2.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 20.3 | 20.3 | 20.3 | 1 |
| 1990s | 19.02 | 17.9 | 20 | 4 |
| 2000s | 20.03 | 20.03 | 20.03 | 1 |
| 2010s | 17.59 | 15.1 | 20.78 | 3 |
| 2020s | 18.75 | 18.75 | 18.75 | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % 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 India?
- Weight-for-height <-2 sd in India was 18.75 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-height <-2 sd recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 20.78 in 2015.
- What is the lowest weight-for-height <-2 sd recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.1 in 2014.
- How does India rank for weight-for-height <-2 sd?
- India ranks 1st out of 98 countries with data for 2020.
- Is weight-for-height <-2 sd rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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 — 10 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).