Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted was 14,860 in 2012. ◆ Volatile
Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in Nicaragua, 1993–2012
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 Nicaragua is 14,860, measured in 2012.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in Nicaragua peaked at 23,640 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2,620, in 2004.
Nicaragua ranks 78th of 99 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 17,790 | — |
| 1998 | 23,640 | +32.9% |
| 2001 | 15,530 | -34.3% |
| 2004 | 2,620 | -83.1% |
| 2005 | 5,880 | +124.4% |
| 2007 | 9,860 | +67.7% |
| 2012 | 14,860 | +50.7% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 14,860 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 112,895, 13% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 14,860 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 15,610, 95% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20,715 | 17,790 | 23,640 | 2 |
| 2000s | 8,472 | 2,620 | 15,530 | 4 |
| 2010s | 14,860 | 14,860 | 14,860 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
- 75 Peru 16,150 compare
- 76 Guatemala 15,610 compare
- 77 United Kingdom 15,530 compare
- 79 El Salvador 14,670 compare
- 80 Djibouti 13,860 compare
- 81 East Timor 13,720 compare
More environment data for Nicaragua
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 4.53 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Standard Deviation 0.243 °C (2024)
- Temperature change 1.89 °C (2024)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2023)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.0474 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in Nicaragua?
- Malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in Nicaragua was 14,860 in 2012, 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 23,640 in 1998.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: number of children who are wasted recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,620 in 2004.
- How does Nicaragua rank for malnutrition: number of children who are wasted?
- Nicaragua ranks 78th out of 99 countries with data for 2012.
- Is malnutrition: number of children who are wasted rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.
Download this data
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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.