Weight-for-height <-2 SD (wasting) in World
World: Weight-for-height <-2 SD was 6.6 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
6.6
Change on year
unchanged
Rank
12th
of 56 groups
All-time high
8.8
in 2000
All-time low
6.6
in 2023
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Weight-for-height <-2 SD in World, 2000–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for weight-for-height <-2 sd in World is 6.6, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-height <-2 sd in World peaked at 8.8 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.6, in 2023.
That places World 12th out of 56 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Weight-for-height <-2 SD in World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.8 | — |
| 2001 | 8.7 | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 8.6 | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 8.5 | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 8.4 | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 8.3 | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 8.2 | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 8.1 | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 7.9 | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 7.8 | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 7.7 | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 7.6 | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 7.4 | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 7.3 | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 7.2 | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 7.1 | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 7 | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 6.9 | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 6.8 | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 6.8 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 6.7 | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 6.7 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 6.7 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 6.6 | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 6.6 | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.33 | 7.8 | 8.8 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.18 | 6.8 | 7.7 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.66 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 5 |
Countries ranked near World
More health data for World
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2,458 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.47 % 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 0.0381 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6031 % 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 0.0401 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, annual growth rate -0.915 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per capita 0.04 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is weight-for-height <-2 sd in World?
- Weight-for-height <-2 sd in World was 6.6 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-height <-2 sd recorded in World?
- The highest recorded value was 8.8 in 2000.
- What is the lowest weight-for-height <-2 sd recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.6 in 2023.
- How does World rank for weight-for-height <-2 sd?
- World ranks 12th out of 56 groups with data for 2024.
- Is weight-for-height <-2 sd rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this World 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 — 25 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).