Weight-for-height <-3 SD in Southern Africa (UNSDG)

Southern Africa (UNSDG): Weight-for-height <-3 SD was 0.4 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
0.4
Change on year
down 20.0%
Rank
38th
of 56 groups
All-time high
3.6
in 2000
All-time low
0.4
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Weight-for-height <-3 SD in Southern Africa (UNSDG), 2000–2024

012342000201220242000: 3.62001: 3.32002: 32003: 2.82004: 2.52005: 2.32006: 2.12007: 1.92008: 1.82009: 1.62010: 1.52011: 1.42012: 1.22013: 1.12014: 12015: 12016: 0.92017: 0.82018: 0.72019: 0.72020: 0.62021: 0.62022: 0.52023: 0.52024: 0.4

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

Southern Africa (UNSDG) recorded 0.4 for weight-for-height <-3 sd in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

The figure is down 20.0% on the previous year and down 60.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, weight-for-height <-3 sd in Southern Africa (UNSDG) peaked at 3.6 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.4, in 2024.

Southern Africa (UNSDG) ranks 38th of 56 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Weight-for-height <-3 SD in Southern Africa (UNSDG), year by year

Annual values for Weight-for-height <-3 SD (severe wasting) in Southern Africa (UNSDG), 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 3.6
2001 3.3 -8.3%
2002 3 -9.1%
2003 2.8 -6.7%
2004 2.5 -10.7%
2005 2.3 -8.0%
2006 2.1 -8.7%
2007 1.9 -9.5%
2008 1.8 -5.3%
2009 1.6 -11.1%
2010 1.5 -6.3%
2011 1.4 -6.7%
2012 1.2 -14.3%
2013 1.1 -8.3%
2014 1 -9.1%
2015 1 +0.0%
2016 0.9 -10.0%
2017 0.8 -11.1%
2018 0.7 -12.5%
2019 0.7 +0.0%
2020 0.6 -14.3%
2021 0.6 +0.0%
2022 0.5 -16.7%
2023 0.5 +0.0%
2024 0.4 -20.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.49 1.6 3.6 10
2010s 1.03 0.7 1.5 10
2020s 0.52 0.4 0.6 5

Countries ranked near Southern Africa (UNSDG)

  1. 35 Guinea 1.26 compare
  2. 36 Saudi Arabia 1.2 compare
  3. 37 Ghana 1.17 compare
  4. 38 Ethiopia 1.11 compare
  5. 39 Senegal 1.1 compare
  6. 40 Togo 1.1 compare
  7. 41 Uzbekistan 1.09 compare

See the full ranking of 140 places →

More health data for Southern Africa (UNSDG)

All data for Southern Africa (UNSDG) →

Frequently asked questions

What is weight-for-height <-3 sd in Southern Africa (UNSDG)?
Weight-for-height <-3 sd in Southern Africa (UNSDG) was 0.4 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest weight-for-height <-3 sd recorded in Southern Africa (UNSDG)?
The highest recorded value was 3.6 in 2000.
What is the lowest weight-for-height <-3 sd recorded in Southern Africa (UNSDG)?
The lowest recorded value was 0.4 in 2024.
How does Southern Africa (UNSDG) rank for weight-for-height <-3 sd?
Southern Africa (UNSDG) ranks 38th out of 56 groups with data for 2024.
Is weight-for-height <-3 sd rising or falling in Southern Africa (UNSDG)?
Over the last ten years it is down 60.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Southern Africa (UNSDG) data come from?
The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Weight-for-height <-3 SD (severe wasting). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Weight-for-height <-3 SD in Southern Africa (UNSDG). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/weight-for-height-3-sd-severe-wasting/southern-africa-unsdg/

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About this data

Indicator
Weight-for-height <-3 SD (severe wasting)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
140 places, 2,174 data points, 1986–2024
Last refreshed