Weight-for-height <-2 SD (wasting) in Kenya
Kenya: Weight-for-height <-2 SD was 4.53 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
4.53
World rank
45th
of 98 countries
All-time high
7.5
in 1998
All-time low
4.18
in 2014
Years of data
12
1987–2022
Weight-for-height <-2 SD in Kenya, 1987–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for weight-for-height <-2 sd in Kenya is 4.53, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-height <-2 sd in Kenya peaked at 7.5 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 4.18, in 2014.
That places Kenya 45th out of 98 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Weight-for-height <-2 SD in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 5.5 | — |
| 1993 | 7.12 | +29.4% |
| 1994 | 6.8 | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 7.5 | +10.3% |
| 2000 | 7.39 | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 6.23 | -15.7% |
| 2005 | 6.95 | +11.5% |
| 2008 | 6.94 | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 6 | -13.5% |
| 2014 | 4.18 | -30.4% |
| 2016 | 6.71 | +60.6% |
| 2022 | 4.53 | -32.5% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 4.53 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1, 89% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 4.53 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.56, 81% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 1 |
| 1990s | 7.14 | 6.8 | 7.5 | 3 |
| 2000s | 6.88 | 6.23 | 7.39 | 4 |
| 2010s | 5.63 | 4.18 | 6.71 | 3 |
| 2020s | 4.53 | 4.53 | 4.53 | 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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is weight-for-height <-2 sd in Kenya?
- Weight-for-height <-2 sd in Kenya was 4.53 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-height <-2 sd recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 7.5 in 1998.
- What is the lowest weight-for-height <-2 sd recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.18 in 2014.
- How does Kenya rank for weight-for-height <-2 sd?
- Kenya ranks 45th out of 98 countries with data for 2022.
- Is weight-for-height <-2 sd rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.5%. 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-height <-2 SD (wasting). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).