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.
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
- 74 United States 18,790 compare
- 75 Peru 16,150 compare
- 76 Guatemala 15,610 compare
- 78 Nicaragua 14,860 compare
- 79 El Salvador 14,670 compare
More environment data for United Kingdom
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 386.7 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 5.58 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 31.55 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.7351 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 3.35 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.078 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 58.88 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.3113 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.1931 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 22.62 Mt CO2e (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.