Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted was 71,940 in 2021. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in Sierra Leone, 1989–2021
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 Sierra Leone is 71,940, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 19.5% on the previous year and down 6.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in Sierra Leone peaked at 96,440 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 49,560, in 2014.
That places Sierra Leone 54th out of 99 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 58,630 | — |
| 1990 | 74,070 | +26.3% |
| 2000 | 90,110 | +21.7% |
| 2005 | 96,440 | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 76,610 | -20.6% |
| 2014 | 49,560 | -35.3% |
| 2017 | 74,490 | +50.3% |
| 2019 | 60,210 | -19.2% |
| 2021 | 71,940 | +19.5% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 71,940 is below the median for low income countries, which is 229,410, 31% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 71,940 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 175,595, 41% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 58,630 | 58,630 | 58,630 | 1 |
| 1990s | 74,070 | 74,070 | 74,070 | 1 |
| 2000s | 93,275 | 90,110 | 96,440 | 2 |
| 2010s | 65,218 | 49,560 | 76,610 | 4 |
| 2020s | 71,940 | 71,940 | 71,940 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More environment data for Sierra Leone
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.4 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.39 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.232 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.28 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.72 % 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 1.11 % 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 Sierra Leone?
- Malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in Sierra Leone was 71,940 in 2021, 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 96,440 in 2005.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: number of children who are wasted recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 49,560 in 2014.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for malnutrition: number of children who are wasted?
- Sierra Leone ranks 54th out of 99 countries with data for 2021.
- Is malnutrition: number of children who are wasted rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.