Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted was 15,530 in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in United Kingdom, 2007–2019
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 15,530 for malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in 2019.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in United Kingdom peaked at 51,820 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 7,850, in 2010.
That places United Kingdom 77th out of 99 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 21,980 | — |
| 2008 | 22,590 | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 19,260 | -14.7% |
| 2010 | 7,850 | -59.2% |
| 2011 | 51,820 | +560.1% |
| 2012 | 16,150 | -68.8% |
| 2013 | 8,130 | -49.7% |
| 2014 | 16,280 | +100.2% |
| 2015 | 16,270 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 16,180 | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 16,000 | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 15,790 | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 15,530 | -1.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 15,530 is above the median for high income countries, which is 12,420, 1.3× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 15,530 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 31,265, 50% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Malnutrition: Number of children who are wasted in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +560.1% | 7,850 | 51,820 |
| 2014 | +100.2% | 8,130 | 16,280 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21,277 | 19,260 | 22,590 | 3 |
| 2010s | 18,000 | 7,850 | 51,820 | 10 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More environment data for United Kingdom
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.13 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.25 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.47 % 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 -0.8735 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -1.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in United Kingdom?
- Malnutrition: number of children who are wasted in United Kingdom was 15,530 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 51,820 in 2011.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: number of children who are wasted recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,850 in 2010.
- How does United Kingdom rank for malnutrition: number of children who are wasted?
- United Kingdom ranks 77th out of 99 countries with data for 2019.
- Is malnutrition: number of children who are wasted rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.