High income vs South Africa: Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female

High income
3.6%
in 2024
South Africa
21.7%
in 2024
High income rank
42nd
South Africa rank
43rd

Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female over time

  • High income
  • South Africa
510152025200020122024

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 21.7% against 3.6% in High income, a difference of 18.1%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 6.1 times High income's.

Across all 25 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

High income ranks 42nd and South Africa ranks 43rd of 45 groups.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade High income South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 3.8% 23.0% 19.1% South Africa
2010s 3.5% 19.8% 16.3% South Africa
2020s 3.4% 20.9% 17.4% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher prevalence of stunting, height for age, female, High income or South Africa?
South Africa, at 21.7% against 3.6% in High income as of 2024.
What is the difference in prevalence of stunting, height for age, female between High income and South Africa?
18.1%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for High income and South Africa?
25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
How do High income and South Africa rank globally for prevalence of stunting, height for age, female?
High income ranks 42nd and South Africa ranks 43rd of 45 groups.
Where does this data come from?
Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female (modeled estimate, % of children under 5). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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High income vs South Africa: Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female. Statizoid, drawing on Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/prevalence-of-stunting-height-for-age-female-modeled-estimate-percent-of-children-under-5/high-income/south-africa/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/compare/prevalence-of-stunting-height-for-age-female-modeled-estimate-percent-of-children-under-5/high-income/south-africa/">High income vs South Africa: Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female (modeled estimate, % of children under 5)
Source
Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
207 places, 5,161 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Prevalence of stunting, female, is the percentage of girls under age 5 whose height for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. For children up to two years old height is measured by recumbent length. For older children height is measured by stature while standing. The data are based on the WHO's 2006 Child Growth Standards.