Weight-for-height <-2 SD (wasting) in Zambia
Zambia: Weight-for-height <-2 SD was 4.23 in 2018. ▼ Falling
Latest (2018)
4.23
World rank
50th
of 98 countries
All-time high
6.32
in 1992
All-time low
4.23
in 2018
Years of data
7
1992–2018
Weight-for-height <-2 SD in Zambia, 1992–2018
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 4.23 for weight-for-height <-2 sd in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 24.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-height <-2 sd in Zambia peaked at 6.32 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 4.23, in 2018.
That places Zambia 50th out of 98 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
Weight-for-height <-2 SD in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 6.32 | — |
| 1996 | 5.34 | -15.6% |
| 1999 | 5.9 | +10.5% |
| 2002 | 6.21 | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 5.56 | -10.5% |
| 2013 | 6.24 | +12.3% |
| 2018 | 4.23 | -32.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 4.23 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1, 83% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 4.23 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.56, 76% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.85 | 5.34 | 6.32 | 3 |
| 2000s | 5.89 | 5.56 | 6.21 | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.24 | 4.23 | 6.24 | 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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is weight-for-height <-2 sd in Zambia?
- Weight-for-height <-2 sd in Zambia was 4.23 in 2018, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-height <-2 sd recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.32 in 1992.
- What is the lowest weight-for-height <-2 sd recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.23 in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for weight-for-height <-2 sd?
- Zambia ranks 50th out of 98 countries with data for 2018.
- Is weight-for-height <-2 sd rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.0%. 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-height <-2 SD (wasting). 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).