Weight-for-height <-3 SD (severe wasting) in Zambia
Zambia: Weight-for-height <-3 SD was 1.52 in 2018. ▼ Falling
Latest (2018)
1.52
World rank
27th
of 84 countries
All-time high
2.47
in 2013
All-time low
1.52
in 2018
Years of data
7
1992–2018
Weight-for-height <-3 SD in Zambia, 1992–2018
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2018, weight-for-height <-3 sd in Zambia stood at 1.52. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 34.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-height <-3 sd in Zambia peaked at 2.47 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 1.52, in 2018.
Zambia ranks 27th of 84 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Weight-for-height <-3 SD in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 2.22 | — |
| 1996 | 1.69 | -24.0% |
| 1999 | 2 | +18.4% |
| 2002 | 2.33 | +16.7% |
| 2007 | 2.33 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 2.47 | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 1.52 | -38.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1.52 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.3, 1.2× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1.52 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.22, 1.2× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.97 | 1.69 | 2.22 | 3 |
| 2000s | 2.33 | 2.33 | 2.33 | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.99 | 1.52 | 2.47 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 25 Cameroon 1.59 compare
- 26 Guinea-Bissau 1.53 compare
- 28 Chad 1.5 compare
- 29 Madagascar 1.48 compare
- 30 East Timor 1.47 compare
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 <-3 sd in Zambia?
- Weight-for-height <-3 sd in Zambia was 1.52 in 2018, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-height <-3 sd recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.47 in 2013.
- What is the lowest weight-for-height <-3 sd recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.52 in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for weight-for-height <-3 sd?
- Zambia ranks 27th out of 84 countries with data for 2018.
- Is weight-for-height <-3 sd rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.9%. 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 <-3 SD (severe 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).