Between 2018 and 2020, six percent of children aged under five living in Africa had a too low weight for their height. In Western Africa, this share was 6.9 percent, the highest in Africa. Northern Africa registered the second highest percentage of wasted children in Africa, where 6.6 percent of the children were not growing well. Wasting is a predictor of infant mortality. It is caused by a large food shortage, often accompanied by diseases.
Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in Africa between 2018 and 2020, by geographical area
Characteristic
Share of children
Northern Africa
6.6%
Eastern Africa
5.2%
Middle Africa
6.2%
Southern Africa
3.2%
Western Africa
6.9%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of children6.6%6.6%5.2%5.2%6.2%6.2%3.2%3.2%6.9%6.9%Northern AfricaEastern AfricaMiddle AfricaSouthern AfricaWestern Africa
0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%
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UNICEF. (July 31, 2021). Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in Africa between 2018 and 2020, by geographical area [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 24, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1126615/share-of-wasted-children-under-5-in-africa-by-geographical-area/
UNICEF. "Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in Africa between 2018 and 2020, by geographical area." Chart. July 31, 2021. Statista. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1126615/share-of-wasted-children-under-5-in-africa-by-geographical-area/
UNICEF. (2021). Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in Africa between 2018 and 2020, by geographical area. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 24, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1126615/share-of-wasted-children-under-5-in-africa-by-geographical-area/
UNICEF. "Prevalence of Wasting among Children under 5 in Africa between 2018 and 2020, by Geographical Area." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Jul 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1126615/share-of-wasted-children-under-5-in-africa-by-geographical-area/
UNICEF, Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in Africa between 2018 and 2020, by geographical area Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1126615/share-of-wasted-children-under-5-in-africa-by-geographical-area/ (last visited February 24, 2025)
Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in Africa between 2018 and 2020, by geographical area [Graph], UNICEF, July 31, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1126615/share-of-wasted-children-under-5-in-africa-by-geographical-area/
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