Wasting in children in South Africa in 2017 — 3.6%. Ranked 13 in the world out of 30. Since 1994, the indicator has risen by 0.3 pp.
1994–2017 · % of children under 5
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa
| Year | % | Change, pp |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3.6 | +1.1 pp |
| 2016 | 2.5 | −0.9 pp |
| 2015 | 3.4 | — |
| 2008 | 5.4 | — |
| 1999 | 4.5 | — |
| 1994 | 3.3 | — |
The share of children under five whose weight falls short of the WHO norm for their height by more than two standard deviations. Unlike stunting, wasting speaks of an acute shortage of nutrition or of a recent illness, and it is reversible: with normal feeding a child regains the weight. That is exactly why wasting serves as an indicator of a current crisis — drought, war, breaks in supply — and not of long-standing poverty.
Important: The data come from sample surveys, so the years are intermittent. 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.
The share of children under five with the gravest degree of wasting — a condition that threatens life.
Nutrition Stunting in childrenThe share of children under five whose height is markedly below the norm for their age.
Nutrition Underweight childrenThe share of children under 5 whose weight is insufficient for their age.
Nutrition Food insecurityThe share of people who at least once during the year lacked money or access to food.
