Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted was 1.17 million in 2019. ▲ Rising
Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in Ethiopia, 1992–2019
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in Ethiopia is 1.17 million, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of down 26.9% on the previous year and down 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in Ethiopia peaked at 1.79 million in 2005 and was at its lowest, 942,890, in 1992.
That places Ethiopia 8th out of 99 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 942,890 | 942,890 | 942,890 | 1 |
| 2000s | 1.71 million | 1.62 million | 1.79 million | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.42 million | 1.17 million | 1.60 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 5 Bangladesh 1.74 million compare
- 6 China 1.72 million compare
- 7 Democratic Republic of Congo 1.39 million compare
- 9 Yemen 1.03 million compare
- 10 Philippines 574,510 compare
- 11 Niger 497,560 compare
More environment data for Ethiopia
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 192.7 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 1.46 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 87.11 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 12.61 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 18.3 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0131 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 131.63 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0409 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 13.56 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in Ethiopia?
- Malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in Ethiopia was 1.17 million in 2019, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest malnutrition: number of children who are wasted recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.79 million in 2005.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: number of children who are wasted recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 942,890 in 1992.
- How does Ethiopia rank for malnutrition: number of children who are wasted?
- Ethiopia ranks 8th out of 99 countries with data for 2019.
- Is malnutrition: number of children who are wasted rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of children younger than five who are 'wasted'. Wasting is when a child’s weight is significantly lower than the average for their height, for example because of acute food shortage or disease.