Severe wasting in children — all countries

Severe wasting in children — South Asia

Severe wasting in children in South Asia in 2024 — 4.94%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 0.63 pp.

2024 4.94% −0.03 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 5.57%2000
Period minimum 4.94%2024

Trend over time

2000–2024 · % of children under 5

Severe wasting in children — South Asia, 2000–20244.855.25.45.62000200320062009201220152018202120242000: 5.57%2001: 5.54%2002: 5.52%2003: 5.49%2004: 5.46%2005: 5.43%2006: 5.41%2007: 5.38%2008: 5.35%2009: 5.33%2010: 5.3%2011: 5.27%2012: 5.25%2013: 5.22%2014: 5.2%2015: 5.17%2016: 5.14%2017: 5.12%2018: 5.09%2019: 5.07%2020: 5.04%2021: 5.02%2022: 4.99%2023: 4.97%2024: 4.94%
Change over the period: −0.63 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Asia

South Asia 4.94%
World 1.89%
Severe wasting in children — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 4.94 −0.03 pp
2023 4.97 −0.02 pp
2022 4.99 −0.03 pp
2021 5.02 −0.02 pp
2020 5.04 −0.03 pp
2019 5.07 −0.02 pp
2018 5.09 −0.03 pp
2017 5.12 −0.02 pp
2016 5.14 −0.03 pp
2015 5.17 −0.03 pp
2014 5.2 −0.02 pp
2013 5.22 −0.03 pp
2012 5.25 −0.02 pp
2011 5.27 −0.03 pp
2010 5.3 −0.03 pp
2009 5.33 −0.02 pp
2008 5.35 −0.03 pp
2007 5.38 −0.03 pp
2006 5.41 −0.02 pp
2005 5.43 −0.03 pp
2004 5.46 −0.03 pp
2003 5.49 −0.03 pp
2002 5.52 −0.02 pp
2001 5.54 −0.03 pp
2000 5.57

About the indicator

The share of children under five whose weight falls short of the WHO norm for their height by more than three standard deviations. This is a subset of wasting, its extreme degree: without treatment mortality in this group runs into the tens of percent, which is why such cases are counted as a medical emergency and are treated with special therapeutic food. The indicator is the most sensitive of the child ones: it responds to a crisis earlier than the rest.

Important: Part of the wasting indicator rather than an addition to it: the two series cannot be added. The aggregate by group is weighted by the number of children aged 0–14.

Source: Global Health Observatory (WHO), license CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.