Severe wasting in children in South Africa in 2017 — 1.7%. Ranked 18 in the world out of 29. Since 2008, the indicator has fallen by 1.5 pp.
2008–2017 · % of children under 5
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa
| Year | % | Change, pp |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1.7 | +1.1 pp |
| 2016 | 0.6 | −0.5 pp |
| 2015 | 1.1 | — |
| 2008 | 3.2 | — |
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.
The share of children under five whose weight is markedly below the norm for their height.
Nutrition Stunting in childrenThe share of children under five whose height is markedly below the norm for their age.
Mortality Under-five mortality rateThe probability of dying before the fifth birthday — per 1,000 live births.
Nutrition Tobacco use prevalenceThe share of adults who use tobacco in any form.
Nutrition Access to clean waterThe share of the population with access to basic sources of drinking water.
Nutrition Access to basic sanitationThe share of the population with access to improved sanitation and hygiene conditions.
