Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted was 107,560 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in Saudi Arabia, 1994–2020
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 Saudi Arabia is 107,560, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 15.0% on the previous year and down 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in Saudi Arabia peaked at 261,120 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 58,490, in 1994.
Saudi Arabia ranks 46th of 99 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 58,490 | — |
| 2004 | 261,120 | +346.4% |
| 2015 | 120,330 | -53.9% |
| 2016 | 96,360 | -19.9% |
| 2017 | 131,260 | +36.2% |
| 2018 | 110,910 | -15.5% |
| 2019 | 126,560 | +14.1% |
| 2020 | 107,560 | -15.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 107,560 is above the median for high income countries, which is 12,420, 8.7× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 107,560 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 121,805, 88% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58,490 | 58,490 | 58,490 | 1 |
| 2000s | 261,120 | 261,120 | 261,120 | 1 |
| 2010s | 117,084 | 96,360 | 131,260 | 5 |
| 2020s | 107,560 | 107,560 | 107,560 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More environment data for Saudi Arabia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -52.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -27.86 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.424 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.58 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.53 % 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 9.62 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in Saudi Arabia?
- Malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in Saudi Arabia was 107,560 in 2020, 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 261,120 in 2004.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: number of children who are wasted recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 58,490 in 1994.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for malnutrition: number of children who are wasted?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 46th out of 99 countries with data for 2020.
- Is malnutrition: number of children who are wasted rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.